The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (February 9) met Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials and academia to learn about urban renewal and heritage preservation in the city.
Mrs Lam is leading a delegation to Tokyo from February 8-10 to get first-hand information on how Tokyo undertakes urban regeneration.
During today's visit, the delegation first called on the Bureau of Urban Development. They were briefed by Chief of Protocol, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Mr Toshiyuki Taga, on the policy and approach adopted by the Tokyo City Government in urban redevelopment.
They then met Professor Norihiro Nakai of Tokyo Institute of Technology and were briefed on the history of urban renewal in Tokyo, with particular reference to heritage preservation.
The delegation also visited two urban regeneration projects - Roppongi Hills and the Meiji Seimei Kan. The former is one of Japan's largest integrated developments located in the Roppongi district. This mega-complex incorporates office space, apartments, shops, restaurants, cafes, movie theaters, a museum, a hotel, a major TV studio, an outdoor amphitheatre and parks.
Meiji Seimei Kan is a project incorporating the preservation of historical heritage buildings in the development of new ones. The original Meiji Seimei Kan, which is a Western style old building built in 1934, has been preserved while a modern high-rise office building was built adjacent to it.
The delegation will meet tomorrow academics from the University of Tokyo to learn about community engagement involved in the urban renewal process in Tokyo. They will also call on the Urban Renewal Association of Japan. A visit will be made to Omotesando Hills to see how an ancient landmark has grown into a landmark for a new generation.
Ends/Monday, February 9, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:29
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