Press Releases
Year 2013
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18 Jul 2013
URA’s Art Community in Wan Chai takes off with the opening of the Comix Home Base
The first pure preservation cum revitalisation project of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) at Mallory Street/Burrows Street in Wan Chai is officially open today (Thursday). The URA has appointed Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) to be the Main Operator of the Mallory Street project to operate and manage the "Comix Home Base" under a five-year contract. The HKAC endeavours to use the Comix Home Base as the platform for exchange and interaction of the comic industry both locally and overseas. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, witnessed the opening of the Comix Home Base together with the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan; Chairman of the URA, Mr Victor So; and Chairman of Board of Governors of HKAC, Mr Nelson Leong. Speaking at the ceremony, Chai
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2 Jul 2013
Applications open for third round of demand-led redevelopment projects
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) is inviting applications for the third round of projects under its pilot demand-led redevelopment scheme as from today (Tuesday) until 30 September 2013. Announcing this today, Director, Corporate & Legal Services of the URA, Mr Pius Cheng, said: "The demand-led redevelopment model has been well received among the interested property owners with staunch support since its introduction in 2011, with the first two rounds of demand-led redevelopment projects recorded a total of 25 and 34 applications respectively by the closing dates. In the third round, the URA is committed to taking up demand-led redevelopment projects for commencement in year 2014/15 as soon as possible so as to benefit more people, help them improve their living environment and speed u
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28 Jun 2013
URA commences two other projects in the second round of demand-led pilot scheme
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) commenced the planning procedures for two other redevelopment projects in the second round of demand-led pilot scheme, which are among the four projects selected to be launched in its 2013/14 business plan. The first two demand-led projects were kicked start in April and conditional acquisition offers have just been issued to owners affected by the two projects. Speaking at the media briefing this morning, Director (Planning & Design), Mr Michael Ma, said with the commencement of the two remaining projects, all redevelopment projects in the second round of demand-led pilot scheme have been launched. "The two demand-led projects, involving a total of 109 property interests, if implemented, will help improve the living environment of so
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27 Jun 2013
URA issues offer letters to owners affected by two projects in second round of demand-led pilot scheme
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Thursday) issued conditional acquisition offers to property owners affected by two redevelopment projects in the second round of demand-led pilot scheme in Sham Shui Po commenced in early April this year. Eligible owner-occupiers of domestic properties affected by the two demand-led projects at 270-286 Tung Chau Street/1-5 Kweilin Street and 1-3B Kowloon Road/1-5 Kiu Yam Street in Sham Shui Po are being offered $9,807 and $9,857 per square foot of saleable area respectively, which are equivalent to the unit rate of a notional replacement flat of seven-year-old situated in similar locality and of similar size. The URA offer letters spelt out details of the conditional offers to owners of 251 property interests who will have 75 days to consider a
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21 Jun 2013
Property acquisition for two demand-led redevelopment projects to start soon
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) is going to issue conditional acquisition offers shortly to property owners affected by its two demand-led redevelopment projects in Sham Shui Po commenced in early April this year. Eligible owner-occupiers of domestic properties of 270-286 Tung Chau Street/1-5 Kweilin Street and 1-3B Kowloon Road/1-5 Kiu Yam Street projects will be offered $9,807 and $9,857 per square foot of saleable area respectively which are equivalent to the unit rate of a notional replacement flat of seven-year-old situated in similar locality and of similar size, are deliberated and approved by the Land, Rehousing and Compensation Committee of the URA Board today (Friday). Letters outlining details of the conditional offers to owners of 251 property interests of the two proj
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21 Jun 2013
URA to acquire property interests for Reclamation Street project
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) is going to issue acquisition offers to owners of some 173 property interests affected by its Reclamation Street/Shantung Street redevelopment project in Mong Kok early next month. Eligible owner-occupiers of domestic properties of Reclamation Street/Shantung Street project will be offered $11,832 per square foot of saleable area which is equivalent to the unit rate of a notional replacement flat of seven-year-old situated in similar locality and of similar size, is deliberated and approved by the Land, Rehousing and Compensation Committee of the URA Board today (Friday). Property owners will have 60 days to consider the acquisition offers. Same as other URA projects, the Authority's prevailing acquisition policy for both domestic and non-domestic p
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21 Jun 2013
URA to issue revised offers for Kwun Tong Town Centre project
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) will issue revised general offers to the owners of 30 property interests in Development Area 5 (DA5) of the Kwun Tong Town Centre project before the end of this month. Eligible owner-occupiers of domestic properties will be offered $11,483 per square foot of saleable area. The revised general offers are approved by the Land, Rehousing and Compensation Committee of the URA Board at its meeting today (Friday). The arrangement is made in line with a decision of the URA back in 2008. In view of the size and complexity of the Kwun Tong Town Centre project, the URA decided to implement the mega project in stages by phasing the project site into five development areas. It is envisaged that DA5 will enter the resumption process at a much later stag
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15 Jun 2013
The Chairman of URA Board assumes office
The Chairman of the Board of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), Mr Victor So Hing-woh, who has recently been appointed by the Government for the position, assumed the chairmanship of the URA Board with effect from today (Saturday). Prior to taking up his appointment in just about a week, Mr So has taken the time to get himself familiar with the operation and work of the URA. Not only has he met with Board Members, the management and staff of the Authority on a number of informal occasions, he has actually visited some of the major projects to get a first-hand understanding of how the projects are being taken forward. Of all the projects he has visited, Mr So is much perplexed to see the acute and poor living conditions of residents at Tonkin Street/Fuk Wing Street project in Sham Shui
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6 Jun 2013
URA welcomes the appointment of Victor So Hing-woh as the URA Chairman
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Thursday) welcomed the appointment of Mr Victor So Hing-woh as the Chairman of the URA Board with effect from 15 June 2013. Being a seasoned housing professional, Mr So has held various key positions during his 40 years of service in both the public and private sectors. His extensive experience in public administration and corporate management will definitely be an asset to the URA, which is tasked to implement the new Urban Renewal Strategy promulgated in 2011. Given his profound experience and knowledge in lands and housing matters, as well as in urban regeneration, the appointment of Mr So is conducive to providing solid leadership to the Authority in meeting the many challenges posed by our aging urban fabric. On his appointment as the Chai
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31 May 2013
University students and volunteers commended for URA’s Community Service Partnership Programme
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) commended more than 150 tertiary students and volunteers from local non-government organisations (NGOs) and URA staff team in recognition of their community service to the residents in old districts in the 2012/2013 academic year. Speaking at an award presentation ceremony, the Managing Director of the URA, Ms Iris Tam, expressed her gratitude to all students, NGOs, URA staff volunteers, and the Agency for Voluntary Service for making the Community Service Partnership Scheme (CSPS) possible, which is organised for the first time by the Authority. She said: "The mission of the URA is to tackle the urban decay problem and improve the living conditions of residents in dilapidated urban areas through redevelopment and rehabilitation. Adherin