Press Releases
Year 2013
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6 Jun 2013
URA welcomes the appointment of Victor So Hing-woh as the URA Chairman
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Thursday) welcomed the appointment of Mr Victor So Hing-woh as the Chairman of the URA Board with effect from 15 June 2013. Being a seasoned housing professional, Mr So has held various key positions during his 40 years of service in both the public and private sectors. His extensive experience in public administration and corporate management will definitely be an asset to the URA, which is tasked to implement the new Urban Renewal Strategy promulgated in 2011. Given his profound experience and knowledge in lands and housing matters, as well as in urban regeneration, the appointment of Mr So is conducive to providing solid leadership to the Authority in meeting the many challenges posed by our aging urban fabric. On his appointment as the Chai
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31 May 2013
University students and volunteers commended for URA’s Community Service Partnership Programme
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) commended more than 150 tertiary students and volunteers from local non-government organisations (NGOs) and URA staff team in recognition of their community service to the residents in old districts in the 2012/2013 academic year. Speaking at an award presentation ceremony, the Managing Director of the URA, Ms Iris Tam, expressed her gratitude to all students, NGOs, URA staff volunteers, and the Agency for Voluntary Service for making the Community Service Partnership Scheme (CSPS) possible, which is organised for the first time by the Authority. She said: "The mission of the URA is to tackle the urban decay problem and improve the living conditions of residents in dilapidated urban areas through redevelopment and rehabilitation. Adherin
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24 May 2013
URA submits planning application for Central Oasis and kicks off exhibition to showcase design
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) kicked off a month-long exhibition to showcase the conceptual design for its Central Oasis revitalisation project which has been developed in accordance with the mainstream public views collected through an extensive long public engagement exercise by the Authority over the past two years. Officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Central Oasis Community Advisory Committee (COCAC), Professor David Lung, said: "The exhibition is being staged in parallel with the planning application for the project to the Town Planning Board (TPB) by the URA under section 16 of the TPB Ordinance today. We hope to enhance public understanding of the proposed design concept which has incorporated the mainstream views of a two-year public engagement p
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26 Apr 2013
URA welcomes appointments to the URA Board
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) welcomes the Government's re-appointment of Mr Barry Cheung Chun-yuen as the Chairman of the URA Board for a term of two years, effective 1 May 2013 when his current tenure expires on 30 April this year, as well as the new appointments and re-appointments to the URA Board. Mr Barry Cheung said: "It is indeed a great honour to be re-appointed Chairman of the URA Board for a term of two years. I am much obliged to the trust that the Government has placed in me, and the opportunity to be able to continue to play a key role in advancing urban renewal in Hong Kong. "Improving the living environment of residents in dilapidated urban areas remains the core mission of the URA and a complex task as it affects the interests of different stakeholde
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25 Apr 2013
URA’s Flat-for-Flat scheme at Kai Tak awarded BEAM Plus Provisional ‘Platinum’ rating for its sustainable building design
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA)'s Flat-for-Flat (FFF) scheme at Kai Tak development has achieved BEAM Plus Provisional 'Platinum' rating for its sustainable building design from the Hong Kong Green Building Council, said the Managing Director of the Authority, Ms Iris Tam, this (Thursday) afternoon. At a media briefing on the progress of the scheme, Ms Tam said the energy saving measures in the development would help to reduce electricity consumption of about 16 percent or carbon dioxide emission by some 700,000kg (equivalent to planting of about 30,000 trees). Some of the prominent green features include: Double-glazed low e-glass windows to reduce thermal heat; Cross ventilation in all living rooms and lift lobbies; Rainwater collection and grey water treatment systems for ir
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12 Apr 2013
URA commences the first two projects in the second round of demand-led pilot scheme
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) commenced the planning procedures for two redevelopment projects in the second round of demand-led pilot scheme, the first batch of four projects selected to be launched in its 2013/14 business plan. The other two demand-led projects are expected to be kicked start in the next few months. Speaking at the media briefing this morning, Director (Planning & Design), Mr Michael Ma, said the demand-led model, which provided an opportunity for owners to initiate redevelopment of their own properties, received an overwhelming response from property owners as a total of 34 submissions had been received in the second round of applications. "Among the applications received, four projects which have fully met the set of selection criteria determ
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3 Apr 2013
URA endeavours to enrich young people with urban renewal knowledge through art and cultural activities
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has organised various school activities to inspire youngsters to explore urban renewal issues from different perspectives. A drama competition centred on the theme of rehabilitation was organised this year for secondary school students, coupled with a drawing competition that encouraged primary school students to utilise their drawing skills to depict the unique moments and scenes they found in old districts. The final of "Maintaining Buildings for Quality Living" Drama Competition and the prize presentation of the Drawing Competition for primary school students were held at the Youth Square in Chai Wai on 28 March. On the same occasion, winners of the Living Heritage Photo Contest, which was part of the "Living Heritage Exploration" programme organize
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27 Mar 2013
URA and HKHS: New arrangement for building rehabilitation service in Kowloon, Kwai Tsing and Tsuen Wan
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) today (Wednesday) announced a new arrangement for the Integrated Building Maintenance Assistance Scheme (IBMAS) in Kowloon, Kwai Tsing and Tsuen Wan. Beginning from 1 April 2013, the URA will be responsible for receiving and processing all new IBMAS applications in these areas while the HKHS will continue to follow through the applications already received in these areas prior to that date. The IBMAS has amalgamated all assistance schemes provided by both the URA and HKHS into a single one-stop service since 1 April 2011. As at the end of 2012, the two organisations have assisted about 570 buildings (24,000 units) plus 1,630 individual owners under IBMAS. The new arrangement announced today has been worke
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22 Mar 2013
URA’s Demand-led Projects in Sham Shui Po and Tai Kok Tsui: Authorisation by the Secretary for Development
The implementation of two demand-led redevelopment projects of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) in Sham Shui Po and Tai Kok Tsui respectively takes a major step forward with the authorisation of the Secretary for Development (SDEV) published in the Gazette today (Friday). The authorisation for the Authority to proceed with the two projects, one at 205 - 211A Hai Tan Street in Sham Shui Po and another at Pine Street/Oak Street in Tai Kok Tsui, is given under Section 24(4)(a) of the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance (URAO). The two projects were implemented by way of a development project in accordance with Section 26 of the URAO. The commencement notices of the two demand-led redevelopment projects were published in the Gazette on 20 April 2012 under Section 23 of the URAO. Written
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8 Mar 2013
URA commences the 15th redevelopment project in Sham Shui Po
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) commenced the planning procedures of the Tonkin Street / Fuk Wing Street redevelopment project in Sham Shui Po, bringing the number of redevelopment projects initiated by the Authority in the district to 15 so far. The project, if implemented, will greatly improve the living environment of some 110 households. At a media briefing to outline details of the project, Director (Acquisition and Clearance) of the URA, Mr Ian Wong, said Sham Shui Po will see a facelift in a few years' time upon the gradual completion of on-going redevelopment projects and the continuous building rehabilitation efforts of the Authority in the area. "Until now, the announced projects altogether have been helping some 6,000 people to improve their living condi