Press Releases
Year 2011
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31 Oct 2011
25 applications for URA demand-led redevelopment project (pilot scheme) received
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announced that a total of 25 applications have been received for its demand-led redevelopment project (pilot scheme) upon closing of the application today (Monday). An assessment panel of the URA will review the applications and make recommendation to the URA Board for a decision in November/December 2011. In assessing the suitability of applications for implementation as demand-led redevelopment projects, the aforesaid panel will make sure that they fulfil all the application criteria which include inter-alia that each application is submitted by owners of not less than 67% of the undivided shares in every lot within the site; the building conditions are poor and varied; the size of the site should generally be larger than 400 square metres. Our plan
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26 Sep 2011
URA: Pak Tsz Lane revitalisation project to celebrate centennial anniversary of 1911 Chinese Revolution
The Pak Tsz Lane revitalisation project undertaken by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), which features a themed and landscaped open space in relation to Hong Kong's link with the 1911 Chinese Revolution, is ready to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the historical event. Speaking at a preview of the Pak Tsz Lane garden project for the media representatives this (Monday) afternoon, the Chairman of the URA, Mr Barry Cheung Chun-yuen, said: "This worthwhile and meaningful initiative provides members of the public with a valuable as well as a reminiscent open space while at the same time manifesting the significance of Pak Tsz Lane in modern history." Because of its strategic location, Pak Tsz Lane was a place where revolutionaries frequented for meetings and was home to Furen Lit
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1 Aug 2011
URA to support arts and cultural activities in old urban areas
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announced today (Monday) a pilot scheme in support of arts and cultural activities in old urban areas. Speaking at a media gathering, URA Chairman Mr Barry Cheung said: "Improving the quality of life of residents in dilapidated urban areas remains our primary goal, and incorporating arts and cultural elements into our projects helps underscore this objective. "We will, for example, further welcome the use of our facilities on a rent-free basis, by cultural and arts organisations. Over the past year, 27 exhibitions have been staged at the Oasis Gallery of the Central Market, with partnering organisations such as The Hong Kong Society of Illustrators, the Central and Western District Council, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refu
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25 Jul 2011
Applications open for demand-led redevelopment projects and facilitation services
Applications open for demand-led redevelopment projects and facilitation services Applications will be open for demand-led redevelopment projects and facilitation services with the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) tomorrow (Tuesday) following its signing of a Service Agreement (SA) with the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association (SCHSA) on the provision of enquiry service to property owners who are interested in applying for the two pilot schemes. Under the SA, SCHSA will provide property owners with the following services: explain the URA's project selection criteria for demand-led redevelopment projects and facilitation services to those making relevant enquiries; explain the prescribed application form and help the applicants to fill the forms properly; provide home visits
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21 Jun 2011
$20 billion cash outflow for URA over next five years on urban renewal programmes
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) plans to spend an estimated $20 billion over the next five years, mainly on its core businesses, namely urban redevelopment and building rehabilitation, and some revitalisation/preservation projects. Briefing the media today (Tuesday) on the URA's Five-year Corporate Plan of 2011-2016, the Authority's Chairman, Mr Barry Cheung, said: "Over the next five years, we shall strengthen and expand our scope of work in respect of development modes and rehabilitation with a view to speeding up our urban renewal efforts and deal effectively with the problem of urban decay." "We intend to implement 10 URA-initiated redevelopment projects in the five- year period. The URA would also undertake each year one or two demand-led projects for owners who initiate redev
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31 May 2011
URA: Demand-led redevelopment model
The Board of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Tuesday) approved the framework for a "demand-led" redevelopment model, one of the major initiatives of the new Urban Renewal Strategy (URS) promulgated by the Government in February 2011 to encourage redevelopment to take more diverse forms in Hong Kong. This is in addition to the new facilitator role announced by the URA last month. Outlining the details of the demand-led redevelopment model at a media briefing this afternoon, the Chairman of the URA, Mr Barry Cheung, said it is intended to let owners decide if they want the URA to redevelop their properties, consistent with the people-oriented and bottom-up approach spelt out in the new URS. Careful consideration has been given to the arrangements of the new model by the URA Bo
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17 May 2011
Property acquisition for Ma Tau Wai Road/Chun Tin Street project to start soon
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Tuesday) announced that offer letters would be issued to owners of the Ma Tau Wai Road/Chun Tin Street project the soonest possible, probably by the end of this month. Eligible owner-occupiers of domestic properties affected by the project would be offered $9,785 per square foot of saleable floor area. Making the announcement at a media briefing this afternoon, the Chairman of the URA, Mr Barry Cheung, said the Home Purchase Allowance (HPA) rate for the project was endorsed by the Land, Rehousing and Compensation Committee of the Authority after careful deliberations. Until now, it is the highest rate being offered by the URA for domestic owner-occupied properties in its projects in Kowloon upon commencement of property acquisition for the proje
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18 Apr 2011
URA: Facilitator Role in redevelopment
The Board of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Monday) approved the framework for URA taking up the role of a facilitator in redevelopment, an initiative set out in the new Urban Renewal Strategy (URS) promulgated by the Government in February this year. In accordance with the URS, redevelopment will take more diverse forms with URA as "implementer" or "facilitator" to help tackle the problem of urban decay in Hong Kong. Outlining the details of the framework at a media briefing this afternoon, the Chairman of the URA, Mr Barry Cheung, said in-depth deliberations have been made to the new initiative with regard to the URA taking up a facilitator role, and the Board has come up with arrangements for implementation as a pilot scheme. Mr Cheung said: "We know that some property own
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15 Apr 2011
Hong Kong Arts Centre awarded the Main Operator contract for Mallory Street/Burrows Street Revitalisation Project
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) announced that the Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) has been awarded the contract for the Main Operator of Mallory Street/Burrows Street Revitalisation Project ("Art Community") in a public tender exercise. Announcing the tender result at a media briefing this afternoon, the Chairman of the URA, Mr Barry Cheung, said: "In the coming year, the URA will work closely with HKAC to design and complete a custom-built environment at the Mallory Street project for the cultural and creative industries based on its innovative proposal. Upon its completion in mid-2012, this project will provide members of the public a venue for enjoyment of a variety of cultural activities." Mr Cheung pointed out that the URA had made three new and unprecedented recor
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1 Apr 2011
Roving exhibition on Central Oasis kicks off
A month-long roving exhibition on four conceptual designs of the Central Oasis revitalisation project of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) is kicked off today (Friday) and will be held at different locations throughout the territory until 1 May 2011 to facilitate public discussions on the way forward for the building. The Chairman of the Central Oasis Community Advisory Committee (COCAC), Professor David Lung, and the Managing Director of the URA, Mr Quinn Law, officiated at the launching ceremony. Professor Lung said the COCAC has been listening to people in the hope that the future building lives up to public aspirations since the project was announced in 2009. "We attach a great deal of importance to the views of the community on the way forward for Central Oasis. In this regard,