Press Releases
Year 2007
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25 Feb 2007
Press Statement on "Wall Effect" allegations
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) issues today (Sunday) the following statement in response to allegations by some environmental groups that projects of the URA create a wall effect. Since its inception in 2001, the URA has awarded joint venture contracts for a total of 11 projects. The planning of all of these projects was in full compliance with the prevailing "Planning Standards and Guidelines". When the Government promulgated its guidelines on air ventilation in July 2006, the superstructure works of our Vision City Project in Tsuen Wan were already nearing completion. Likewise, we embarked on the construction work of our Yeung Uk Road Project as early as February 2005 and the superstructure works is already underway. Attaching a great deal of importance to environmental requir
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16 Feb 2007
Invitation to Tender for Larch Street/Fir Street Project
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) invited a total of 13 property developers to tender for the joint development of the Larch Street/Fir Street redevelopment project in Tai Kok Tsui. The project covers a site area of about 23,570 square feet and upon completion, is expected to deliver a maximum gross floor area of about 212,160 square feet for residential and commercial use. Following the expression of interest exercise which closed on 9 February 2007, 15 submissions have been received by the Authority. A tender review panel appointed by the URA Board has decided to invite 13 interested parties for tendering purposes, after taking into consideration their experience and financial strength to undertake the development in accordance with the requirements and criteria laid
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9 Feb 2007
Expression of Interest for URA's Larch Street/Fir Street Project
In response to media enquiries today (Friday) on result of the expression of interest exercise for the Larch Street/Fir Street joint development project in Tai Kok Tsui, a spokesman of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) said that a total of 15 submissions have been received. A tender review panel under the URA Board will shortlist the qualified parties and invite them to submit a formal tender for the development. It is expected that the tender exercise will take place in the near future. The project covers a site area of about 23,570 square feet and upon completion, is expected to deliver a maximum gross floor area of about 212,160 square feet for residential and commercial use. (END)
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8 Feb 2007
Nan Fung Group wins URA’s Queen's Road East Project
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Thursday) announced that a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nan Fung Group, Nan Wai Development Limited, has won the joint development contract for its Queen's Road East project at 235-245 Queen's Road East in Wan Chai in a public tender exercise. The project covers a site area of about 4,070 square feet and upon completion, is expected to deliver a minimum gross floor area of about 21,250 square feet for residential and commercial use. Nan Fung Group is one of the ten property developers who tendered for the joint venture project. Based on the recommendation of a tender review panel appointed by the URA Board, members of the Board agreed that the offer made by Nan Fung Group has met all the tender requirements and, at the same time, represented the
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2 Feb 2007
Chinese Herb Garden Revitalizes Central & Western District
Situated in its Queen Street project, the Chinese Herb Garden, a public open space now under the auspices of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, is the first theme park - blended with local characteristics - initiated by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA). Mr Edward Cheng, Chairman of the URA Board said today (Friday) at the opening ceremony of this theme park, "The mission of the URA is to sustain the vibrancy, both economically and environmentally, of an old district, through its 4R Strategy, namely, Redevelopment, Rehabilitation, Revitalisation and pReservation. Building on the local culture and other characteristics, we flexibly link up our revitalization efforts with our projects for synergy reasons. The Chinese Herb Garden is a notable example of a redevelopment project
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1 Feb 2007
Invitation for Expression of Interest for Larch Street/Fir Street Project in Tai Kok Tsui
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) will invite real estate developers to submit an expression of interest for the joint development of the Larch Street/Fir Street redevelopment project in Tai Kok Tsui tomorrow (Friday). The project covers a site area of about 23,570 square feet and upon completion, is expected to deliver a maximum gross floor area of about 212,160 square feet for residential and commercial use. Parties interested in the project are requested to indicate their professional competence and financial capability to undertake the development in accordance with the requirements and criteria set by the Authority. Submissions should be made to the URA Headquarters at 10/F Low Block, Grand Millennium Plaza, 181 Queen's Road Central, by 5 pm on 9 February, 2007. A tender rev
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28 Jan 2007
Joint Press Statement by URA and HKHS (Chinese Only)
就「重建監察」等團體今日（星期日）批評市區重建局（市建局）及香港房屋協會（房協）的重建工作，市建局及房協發言人聯合回應如下： 市建局自2002年開展重建項目的收購工作以來，連同與房協合作的8個項目，至今共啟動了30個重建計劃。這些項目之中，有18個已經完成了物業收購工作，涉及的業權近2,700個。此外，因為重建而可以改善居住環境的租戶家庭，亦超過2,400戶。 由於得到絕大部分業主的支持和合作，因此市建局和房協能夠以私人協商方式收購的物業數量，達到2,300個，佔全部業權的86%以上。可見絕大部分業主都滿意市建局和房協的收購安排。以五年的時間，達致這樣的成果，市區重建的工作是否有助改善舊區居民的生活，相信公眾自有定論。 遊行團體指稱，市建局╱房協在收樓的過程中，「有街坊遭遇黑社會式的恐嚇騷擾」。有關指控相當嚴重。在過往我們與居民的接觸中，間中會有人提及。不過全部都 是道聽塗說，以耳代目，完全提不出任何憑據。若果有真憑實據，我們一定會全力跟進，依法辦理，我們亦鼓勵居民團體報警查辦。事實上，有關重建項目的收樓問 題，已經有既定的法律程序處理，市建局或房協毋須，亦絕對不會採用不當手法。遊行團體採取這種亳無理據的指控，跡近抹黑手段，實在令人遺憾。 事實上，市建局/房協現行的物業收購政策，以立法會財務委員會在2001年3月所通過的特惠津貼政策為基礎，並加上適量具鼓勵性質的津貼，目的是鼓勵業主及早接受收購，使項目更快、更順利完成。 當任何重建項目需要並且獲得行政長官會同行政會議批准收地後，政府會根據收地政策，再一次獨立計算給予原業主的補償額，市建局/房協無權參與估價。若果原業主不滿意政府計算的補償額，他亦可以提出申請，由土地審裁處裁定合理的法定補償金額。 故此，市建局/房協是在嚴謹細密的機制下，訂定物業的收購補償，使業主的合法權益得到充分的保障。
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26 Jan 2007
URA tender closes for Queen's Road East project
In response to media enquiries on the tender submissions for the joint development of the Queen's Road East project in Wan Chai, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) issued the following statement: A total of 10 tender offers have been received for the joint venture development of the Queen's Road East project in Wan Chai. A tender review panel under the URA Board will consider the tenders and make recommendation to the Board for a decision in due course. Among the developers who earlier took part in an expression of interest exercise for the project, 17 were invited to submit a tender. The project covers a site area of about 4,070 square feet and upon completion, is expected to deliver a minimum gross floor area of about 21,250 square feet for residential and commerci
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18 Jan 2007
Press Statement on Staunton Street/Wing Lee Street (H19) Project Court Ruling
In response to media enquiries today (18 January 2007) on the Staunton Street/Wing Lee Street project, a spokesperson for the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) issues the following statement: In March 2003, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) commenced the Staunton Street/Wing Lee Street project and submitted a development scheme plan application to the Town Planning Board (TPB). The project is one of the 25 projects announced in 1998 but not commenced by the former Land Development Corporation. The URA has included it in the first five-year Corporate Plan for priority consideration. We fully understand the anxieties of owners and residents affected by the project. The judicial review has however caused some inevitable delay. We must first obtain approval of the development scheme plan b
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14 Jan 2007
Social service team to help Kwun Tong residents
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announced today (Sunday) the appointment of the Christian Family Service Centre (CFSC) for the setting up of an urban renewal social service team to provide professional social work services for residents affected by the Kwun Tong Town Centre redevelopment project. This is the fifth one inaugurated following the recent establishment of a social service team for Hai Tan Street and other projects in Sham Shui Po. Staffed by professional social workers of the CFSC, the Kwun Tong social service team will provide tailor-made service to residents and business operators in the redevelopment area, including those from the ethnic minority groups, who are in need of help. Their appointment is for a period of two years. A spokesperson for the URA said: "All th