The Secretary for Development has authorized the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) to proceed with the Chi Kiang Street/Ha Heung Road and the Pak Tai Street/Mok Cheong Street development projects in Ma Tau Kok.

The authorisation is given under section 24(5) of the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance (URAO) and is published in the Gazette today (Friday).

The implementation of the two projects was first published in the Gazette on 29 February 2008 under section 23(1) of the URAO. This was followed by a two-month consultation period, during which no objections to the development projects were received.  The projects were submitted to the Secretary for Development on 5 June 2008 in accordance with section 24(3) of the URAO.

One of the projects occupies a corner site abutting Pak Tai Street and Mok Cheong Street covering an area of about 776 sq. m. while the other one stands at the corner site of Kowloon City Road, Chi Kiang Street and Ha Heung Road with an area of 928 sq. m.  Each is presently occupied by five buildings that were all built in the 1950¡¦s and are in a generally dilapidated condition. The buildings are mostly served by single staircases with no lifts and there are unauthorized structures causing concerns on safety and environmental hygiene

Both projects are scheduled for completion in 2014/15. The URA¡¦s initial proposal is to redevelop the sites to provide about 210 residential units and 27,600 square feet (2,560 square metres) of commercial floor area.

This is the first batch of development projects implemented by the URA in Ma Tau Kok.  The URA will issue offers to owners to acquire the 121 affected property interests within the next few months. Cash compensation or rehousing to eligible tenants will be provided upon successful acquisition of the properties.

Plans delineating the boundaries of the two projects plus a general description are available for public inspection at the URA headquarters (10/F, Low Block, Grand Millennium Plaza, 181 Queen¡¦s Road Central, Sheung Wan), URA¡¦s offices at G/F., 71 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong and G/F., 68 Bedford Road, Tai Kok Tsui and the Public Enquiry Service Centre of the Kowloon City District Office. Members of the public are welcomed to call the URA hotline at 2588 2333 or visit the URA website at www.ura.org.hk for enquiries and detailed information.

(ENDS)