Press Releases
Year 2004
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10 Jun 2004
K. Wah International wins URA's Johnston Road project
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Thursday) announced that a wholly owned subsidiary of K. Wah International Holdings Ltd., Union Profits Ltd., has won the joint development contract for its Johnston Road project in Wan Chai in a public tender exercise. The project site occupies a prominent location of about 21,200 square feet in Johnston Road at its junction with Ship Street. It is the first site successfully cleared since the URA commenced acquisition work in March 2002 for a series of redevelopment projects. It is also an important part of the URA's effort to regenerate the older part of Wan Chai. The project is expected to yield about 190,000 square feet of residential floor area and about 28,000 square feet of commercial retail area upon completion in 2007. The project a
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28 May 2004
Expression of Interest for URA's Cherry Street Project
In response to media enquiries on result of the expression of interest exercise for the joint development of the Cherry Street project site in Tai Kok Tsui, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) issued the following statement: A total of 17 submissions have been received expressing an interest in the joint development of the Cherry Street project site. A selection panel under the URA Board would 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 Cherry Street project covers an area of about 48,500 square feet and is expected to deliver a gross floor area of about 459,000 square feet for commercial and residential purposes upon completion in 2008. I
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25 May 2004
Five receive awards in Lee Tung Street Development Concept Competition
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Tuesday) presented awards to five winning architect and planner firms in a development concept competition for its Lee Tung Street redevelopment project in Wan Chai. The awards went to Development Professionals Limited, MCAA Limited, Philip Liao & Partner Limited, Urban Design & Planning Consultants Limited and WMKY Limited. Each won a cash prize of $100,000. They have been selected from a total of 20 entries. This is the first time that the URA organised a development concept competition for a major urban redevelopment project. The competition covered the Lee Tung Street project site and the surrounding area measuring about two hectares in total. Among other requirements, the competitors were asked to provide ideas on recreating the local shop
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16 May 2004
Invitation for Expression of Interest for Cherry Street Project
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) tomorrow (Monday) will invite estate developers to provide an expression of interest (EOI) for the joint development of the Cherry Street redevelopment project in Tai Kok Tsui, the second site successfully cleared since the URA launched its urban renewal programme in March 2002. The project site covers an area of about 48,500 square feet and is expected to deliver a gross floor area of about 459,000 square feet for commercial and residential purposes upon completion in 2008. In addition, a residential home for the elderly of about 11,800 square feet and about 19,000 square feet of open space will be provided. The EOI exercise is intended for gauging the interest of private developers in joint venture partnership with the URA. Parties interested in t
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12 May 2004
URA tender closes for Johnston Road project
In response to media enquiries on the tender submissions for the joint development of the Johnston Road project in Wan Chai, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Wednesday) issued the following statement: A total of 14 tender offers have been received for the residential/commercial development in Johnston Road, 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. In an invitation of expression of interest in the project in March this year, 32 developers expressed interest and 28 of them who were qualified were subsequently invited to place a tender. The project site is about 21,200 square feet in Johnston Road at its junction with Ship Street. It is the first site successfully cleared s
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3 May 2004
URA launches new initiative to promote rehabilitation
VThe Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announced today (Monday) a new Rehabilitation initiative with a total budget of $210 million to assist owners of multi-owned old buildings to carry out rehabilitation work to improve their living environment. The initiative, comprising two different schemes, aims at offering assistance either in kind or in interest-free loan to hundreds of buildings in the urban area over the next five years. Announcing the schemes today, URA Managing Director, Mr Billy Lam said: "both schemes are intended for residential buildings which are 30 years' old or above and are located within or near URA's urban renewal target areas. The reason why we are having two schemes is that, based on the experience of the pilot projects conducted last year, we found that there are tw
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26 Apr 2004
Sino Land wins URA's Yeung Uk Road project
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Monday) announced that Ocean Treasure (Hong Kong) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sino Land Company Limited, has won the joint development contract for its Yeung Uk Road project in a public tender exercise. The 77,824-square foot site is a residential and commercial development. It was earmarked by the Government as a linked site to facilitate the implementation of the Tsuen Wan Town Centre redevelopment project which was commenced by the former Land Development Corporation. Design and construction work will commence shortly. The project is expected to be completed in 2007. Sino Land is one of 14 property developers who tendered for the joint venture project. Based on the recommendations of a tender panel appointed by the URA Board, mem
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23 Apr 2004
Press Statement
The following is a statement issued today (April 23) on behalf of the newly appointed Chairman of the URA Board, Mr. Edward Cheng Wai-sun: I am deeply honoured to be appointed the Chairman of the Board of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) by the Chief Executive. The work of the URA is very important to Hong Kong, not only to redevelop old districts but also to revitalise Hong Kong's urban landscape as a whole, socially, environmentally and economically. Total urban revitalisation will make Hong Kong a more attractive place to live and visit. The URA has an important role to play in this process. I look forward to working closely with members of the Board, its committee members, the management and staff, the Government and all stakeholders in the community towards this goal. I wish to t
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23 Apr 2004
URA Press Statement
The spokesman of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) issues the following statement in response to the Government's announcement of appointments to the URA Board today (Friday): The URA's management welcomes the Government's announcement of appointments to the chairmanship and membership of the URA Board. The management looks forward to working under the leadership and guidance of the new Chairman, Mr. Edward Cheng, and the Board in pushing ahead with urban renewal in Hong Kong. The management wishes to take the opportunity to express its heartfelt thanks to all members of the incumbent URA Board for their effective leadership, in particular the Chairman, Dr. Lau Wah-sum, who has made impressive contributions to the work of the URA and its predecessor, the Land Development Corporation.
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19 Apr 2004
Press Statement by the Urban Renewal Authority
The Urban Renewal Authority today (Monday) issues the following statement in connection with an ICAC investigation involving one URA employee:- The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) attaches great importance to the honesty of its staff and the integrity of its operation procedure. The Authority has rendered full co-operation to the ICAC in the investigation and will continue to do so. Whilst emphasising staff integrity, the Authority has also been working closely with the ICAC on systematic preventive measures in the past few years. These included the improvement of acquisition procedures through corruption prevention vetting of the relevant guidelines. Many URA staff have attended anti-corruption training talks organised by the ICAC. In light of the case, however, the Authority will furt