URA

13 MANAGING DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT departments to promote the sharing of data as one of its main tools for future urban planning and formulation of a master renewal plan. Technology advances rapidly, and it’s always the masterminds behind the work that have made innovations possible. Amid the fast-changing environment, the URA is in need of a professional team of staff who would constantly equip themselves with latest knowledge and skills and with a crave for innovation to drive the work of urban renewal at various fronts. For this reason we have invested significant resources in enabling our colleagues to learn and acquire new technology over the past year. Of the staff training hours accumulated in 2017/18, more than 30% were technology-related covering BIM application technology, Artificial Intelligence, applications of Big Data, and the development of the Internet of Things. This past year has been a time of sustaining efforts and getting ready for the future. Our three strategic studies are expected to be completed next year, and I look forward to being inspired by their forward-looking findings and opening up new resolutions in combating the severe urban renewal problems. I wish to extend my gratitude to the Chairman and the Board of the URA for their valuable advice and suggestions over the past year, as well as for their devoted time and energy in leading the URA to carry out various urban renewal works and strategic studies. Furthermore, I would like to express my appreciation to the URA team for their hard work during the past year in driving our research projects to achieve breakthroughs in urban renewal work and to bring in new prospects that will benefit the whole community. We will continue to work with our stakeholders to realise sustainable urban renewal, and together create a better home for the people of Hong Kong. WAI Chi-sing , GBS, JP, FHKEng Managing Director 31 July 2018 Members of staff attending a training session on Artificial Intelligence applications to equip themselves with latest knowledge.