URA

OPERATING REVIEW 31 Operation Building Bright 2.0 (OBB 2.0) and Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme The Chief Executive announced on 11 October 2017 in the 2017/18 Policy Address that two rehabilitation- related schemes were to be launched: (a) a subsidy scheme for fire safety improvement works to facilitate owners of old composite buildings to undertake fire safety enhancement measures required by the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (Cap. 572) (which was later renamed the Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme (FSWS)); and (b) OBB 2.0 to facilitate owner-occupiers of aged residential or composite buildings to carry out rehabilitation works required under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme. The Government invited the URA to administer these two schemes. In response to the invitation, the URA Board approved to partner with the Government to administer and implement the FSWS and OBB 2.0. These two schemes were launched on 9 July 2018. The URA signs the Memorandum of Understanding with the Development Bureau and the Security Bureau for launching the Operation Building Bright 2.0 scheme and Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme. Building Rehabilitation Strategy Review Since 2014, the URA’s strategy in promoting and facilitating building rehabilitation has been refined. Some example of this include: refining the package for financial subsidy, streamlining IBMAS, and increasing emphasis on promotion and education for building rehabilitation which has included extensive stakeholder briefings on IBMAS refinements and the “Building Rehab INFO-Net”. Building Rehabilitation Platform and Building Rehab Info Net Furthermore, the URA has set up a new Building Rehabilitation Platform (BRP) as an all-in-one information centre to be run by a subsidiary company supported by committees with government departments and industry stakeholders, giving the BRP a comprehensive expert support. The platform will serve various purposes via a website under the first phase to be launched in late-2018 and a repository of standard documents and guidelines for procurement and appointment of consultants and contractors. Besides, the URA is exploring with concerned stakeholders the feasibility of developing lists of service providers and a building rehabilitation cost reference centre. The frameworks are under discussion by committee members, and details will be confirmed in the coming year. Prior to the launch of BRP and as an interim measure, the existing “Building Rehab Info Net” – www.buildingrehab.org.hk website which has served as a one-stop e-platform for building owners, professionals and contractors to access building rehabilitation-related information, has been revamped with more friendly access to information and better linkages with other related organisations to facilitate the sharing of building rehabilitation information. Animated videos, featuring a character called BRbot, has been created to help building owners better understand the various building rehabilitation information on the Info Net.