Urban Renewal Authority 2018-19 Annual Report

23 MANAGING DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT In driving “smart urban renewal”, we are in need of a team that is proficient in utilising big data to push forward the work of urban regeneration on various fronts. To address this, we have invested significant resources to help our staff acquire specific knowledge and relevant skillsets in the application of the latest technology. Of the 12,800 staff training hours accumulated over the past year, more than 35% were technology-related covering Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Geographic Information System and BIM application technology, to equip our staff members with the ability to achieve greater results in their respective positions, and to make data analytics part of our business strategy, process and decision-making. Through strengthening our application of innovative and data-centric technologies, coupled with our training initiatives to elevate performance, I hope for the evolution of the URA to become a data-driven organisation which plays a leading role in spearheading the use of innovative technologies among members in the planning and works sectors, in order to help building Hong Kong into a sustainable and smart city in the 21st century. Our former Chairman Mr. So Hing-woh left us some words of wisdoms when he retired after his six-year tenure last April. His saying, as I remember rightly and am grateful for, reminds us of the need to deploy ‘new strategies, innovative mechanisms and concerted efforts’ in order to prevail over the mounting challenges ahead down the bumpy road to urban regeneration. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mr So and all Board Members, for their valuable advice and guidance, as well as their dedication in leading the URA to various achievements and innovative changes to the organisation. My appreciation also goes out to the URA team for their hard work that has made multiple breakthroughs in various aspects of urban renewal over the past year. I look forward to working with our new Chairman Sir Chow Chung-kong and all Board Members to bring our two strategic studies into effect and foster more forward-looking and diverse initiatives on urban renewal, thereby paving the way for urban regeneration to be effective, efficient, and impactful. We also call on all community stakeholders to join us in realising the objectives of sustainable urban renewal for the future. WAI Chi-sing , GBS, JP, FHKEng Managing Director 31 July 2019