Responses by URA to the 2026-27 Budget

The Financial Secretary announced in his 2026-27 Budget, which was released today (25 February 2026), that to reduce the risk of bid-rigging in building repair works, the Government will allocate HK$300 million to the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) to facilitate the launch of an enhanced version of “Smart Tender”, and provide subsidies to owners to utilise the paid services of “Smart Tender” to organise building maintenance works. 

In response, a URA spokesperson said: “The URA expresses its gratitude to the Government for the funding allocation, which will provide a solid foundation for our preparations and enable us to launch the enhanced ‘Smart Tender’ service in the second half of this year as planned.  We are currently finalising the specific arrangements and implementation details of the enhanced ‘Smart Tender’ service with the Development Bureau.  In addition to establishing a more rigorous pre-qualified list of consultants and contractors, the URA will provide building owners with professional advice and support when engaging them.”

To achieve these objectives, additional manpower and financial resources will be required to develop the new service framework and technological applications for the enhanced version of “Smart Tender”.  The URA anticipates utilising no more than HK$100 million as start-up capital to deliver the enhanced service. This will ensure that the necessary expertise for formulating the new framework and mechanisms, as well as the hardware and software infrastructure for a new service platform, are in place in a timely manner.  The remaining allocation will be used to provide subsidies for building owners utilising the “Smart Tender” service. 

The URA will render full support to the Government to take forward the work relating to the enhanced version of “Smart Tender”, with a view to implementing the new service and platform in the second half of the year to continue serving the people of Hong Kong.

(ENDS)