The Government published today (July 31) a draft urban renewal strategy for public comments until September 30 this year in accordance with the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance.
The urban renewal strategy will provide policy guidelines to the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) for the implementation of a 20-year urban renewal programme, which consists of 200 new projects and 25 uncompleted projects of the Land Development Corporation. Older urban areas will be rejuvenated through redevelopment, rehabilitation and preservation.
"The purpose of urban renewal is to improve the quality of life of residents in older urban areas. The strategy is based on the principle that 'people come first'," a Planning and Lands Bureau (PLB) spokesman said.
"Through a 'people-centred' approach to urban renewal, we will ensure that owners whose properties are acquired/resumed for the implementation of redevelopment projects are offered fair and reasonable compensation and that tenants affected by redevelopment projects are provided with proper rehousing.
"As a result of urban renewal, the community at large will benefit," the spokesman said.
The draft urban renewal strategy sets out, among other things, measures which should be undertaken by the URA in the process of carrying out urban renewal. These measures include the establishment of District Advisory Committees, the setting up of urban renewal social service teams and the carrying out of social impact assessments of proposed projects.
Many of the issues set out in the draft urban renewal strategy have undergone public discussion when the Urban Renewal Authority Bill was considered by the Legislative Council last year.
"Before the Government finalizes the urban renewal strategy for issue to the URA, we wish to let the public have another opportunity to express their views," the spokesman said.
"Under section 21(3) of the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance, the URA is required to follow the guidelines set out in the urban renewal strategy when preparing its five-year corporate plan," he added.
The two-month consultation exercise will last until September 30, 2001. Copies of the consultation paper can be obtained from the PLB and District Offices. The paper is also available at the PLB website <www.hplb.gov.hk>.
Members of the public who would like to submit their views can write to the Urban Renewal Unit, Planning and Lands Bureau, 9/F, Murray Building, Garden Road, Central. They can also send in their views by fax on 2905 1002 or through e-mail <address: urstrategy@plb.gov.hk>.
To gather public views on the draft urban renewal strategy, three public consultation fora will be organized by PLB. They will be held in Cantonese on Monday, August 20 at Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School, 533 Fuk Wing Street, Cheung Sha Wan; Friday, August 31 at Theatre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Ngau Chi Wan Complex, 11 Clearwater Bay Road; and Wednesday, September 19 at Theatre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Sheung Wan Complex, 345 Queen's Road Central. All of the three fora will be held from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm.
Members of the public are welcome to participate in the public fora.
End/Tuesday, July 31, 2001
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