Press Releases
Year 2001
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30 Aug 2001
Panel Report on the Allegations of Conflict of Interest Presented to the URA Board
The panel responsible for looking into the allegations of conflict of interest involving the Urban Renewal Authority's (URA) Chairman Dr Lau Wah-sum and Managing Director Mr Canice Mak presented its report to the URA Board at today's (30 August 2001) Board Meeting. Earlier, some press reports brought out that there might be a conflict of interest because Dr Lau Wah-sum and Mr Canice Mak were both shareholders of Sino Elite Limited, a company which owned a piece of farmland in Sai Kung. The panel consisted of three URA Board members including Ms Maria Tam Wai-chu as the chairperson, Professor Cecilia Chan Lai-wan and Mr Michael Lai Kam-cheung. The panel was set up at the request of the URA management in early August to look into the allegations of conflict of interest. The panel's report
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10 Aug 2001
The URA Re-organizes to Implement the Urban Renewal Strategy and to Strengthen the Relationships with Districts
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announced today (10 August 2001) that changes would be introduced to its organization structure. The organization change is a strategic move to ensure that the URA will be in a strong position to implement the SAR Government's urban renewal strategy in an efficient and effective manner. The URA Board approved the new structure at its recent meeting. "The new structure aims at delivering strong functional leadership through a leaner and more efficient organization," explained the URA Chairman Dr Lau Wah Sum. The URA has to undertake a wider scope of work, which includes urban redevelopment, revitalisation of old districts, building rehabilitation, and preservation of district features and buildings with historical value. Therefore, the main focuses o
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9 Aug 2001
URA Press Statement
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Thursday) expresses deep regret about a twisted report in The Cup Magazine about the Authority. The said report is factually inaccurate and has made groundless allegations against URA Chairman Dr Lau Wah-sum, seriously damaging his reputation. The URA reserves its right for legal actions. On the Wan Chai Road/Tai Yuen Street project, the Authority would like to make the following clarifications: It takes several years to implement a redevelopment project, and changes to the project itself and the market conditions are possible. This phenomenon is normal in the course of redevelopment. Over the past three years, the URA (and the former Land Development Corporation) and the joint venture partner (The Chinese Estates Holdings Ltd.) have been holdi
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31 Jul 2001
No announcement on the first batch of projects
On news reports that the Planning, Development and Conservation Committee of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has approved the implementation of five projects towards the end of the year, a spokesperson for the URA today (July 31) clarified that it was not an announcement of the URA. A decision on the first batch of projects to be implemented has yet to be taken by the Board of the URA. 31 July 2001
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27 Jul 2001
Further consultation with URA staff on remuneration proposal
The Management of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has held further consultation with staff members on the proposed terms and conditions of employment. At a meeting last Thursday (19 July), the Board of the URA agreed that the proposed terms and conditions of employment should be the basis of further consultation with staff members. The Board also approved the adoption of a new organisation structure for the URA with immediate effect, which is "district focus" in redevelopment activities. "Restructuring is essential in view of the wider scope of work of the URA and the vast public expectations on its role," said URA Managing Director Mr Canice Mak. Under the new organisation structure, district teams will be set up with strong functional leadership to ensure consistent formulation
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16 Jul 2001
No consideration for Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai
With reference to an article in a local English newspaper today (16 July 2001) on the first batch of redevelopment projects by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), the URA would like to make it clear that no consideration has been made for the redevelopment of the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai. The Urban Renewal Authority, set up to replace the Land Development Corporation in May this year, is tasked to implement a massive 20-year redevelopment programme involving 200 new projects and 25 LDC announced projects, which affect some 140,000 people and 1,800 old buildings. In accordance with the stipulation of the URA Ordinance, the URA has to submit a five-year Corporate Plan and an annual Business Plan to the Financial Secretary for approval. The URA is now actively working on these
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16 Jul 2001
Committee members of URA Board meet residents' groups
Members of two of the committees of the Urban Renewal Authority Board (URA) today (Monday) met with some 60 representatives of resident and community groups from Sham Shui Po, Tai Kok Tsui, Tokwawan, Kwun Tong, Wan Chai, and Central & Western district to hear their views on urban redevelopment. At the meeting, the Chairman of the URA Board, Dr Lau Wah-sum and members of the Community Affairs and Public Relations Committee and the Land, Rehousing and Compensation Committee expounded the mission of the URA and reiterated its commitment to improve the living environment of Hong Kong residents. The meeting also exchanged views on a wide range of issues including project implementation schedule, compensation package and rehousing arrangement. Members shared the residents' concerns and sa
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5 Jun 2001
URA Board Endorsed Membership of Committees and Appeal Panel
The Board of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (5 June) endorsed the membership of six committees set up to formulate recommendation to the Board on key operational and policy matters relating to urban renewal. The six committees are: Committees Chairman(C) / Deputy Chairman(DC) 1. Standing Dr Lau Wah-sum (C) / Mr Barry Cheung Chun-yuen (DC) 2. Audit Mr Dicky Peter Yip (C) / Miss Maria Tam Wai-chu (DC) 3. Land, Rehousing and Compensation Miss Maria Tam Wai-chu (C) / Prof. Cecilia Chan Lai-wan (DC) 4. Finance and Administration Mr Barry Cheung Chun-yuen (C) / Mr Stuart Hamilton Leckie (DC) 5. Planning, Development and Conservation Prof. David Lung Ping-yee (C) / The Hon. Lau Ping-cheung (DC) 6. Community Affairs and Public R
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10 May 2001
URA Board held its first meeting
The Board of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) held its first meeting today (10 May 2001). The URA Chairman, Dr Lau Wah-sum mapped out the Authority's mission which included the following five areas: To regenerate the run-down parts of Hong Kong through a combination of redevelopment, revitalisation and rehabilitation. To make sure that the affected owners and tenants are handled with sympathy, understanding and in a fair and equitable manner. Special care will be given to the elderly and handicapped. To conserve the cultural and built heritage. To pursue excellence in environmentally friendly and maintenance friendly building design and construction. To minimize the URA's dependence on public funding and to achieve a balance between costs and revenues in the long run. Dr Lau rei