Urban Renewal Authority 2018-19 Annual Report

47 OPERATING REVIEW Rehabilitation is the URA’s other core business under the URS. During the past year, the URA has set up its efforts in raising building owners’ awareness of the importance of rehabilitation and promoting preventive maintenance with an aim to prolong building serviceability contributing to preventing urban decay. After taking over the HKHS’s responsibilities under the Integrated Building Maintenance Assistance Scheme (IBMAS) in July 2015, the URA has been the primary agent in Hong Kong for building rehabilitation. In 2018/19, the URA continued its rehabilitation efforts through IBMAS, Mandatory Building Inspection Subsidy Scheme, Operation Building Bright 1.0 and 2.0, Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme, Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme and “Smart Tender” Building Rehabilitation Facilitating Services Scheme. In July 2018, to facilitate owners joining the various building rehabilitation schemes, the URA has consolidated the various building assistance and subsidy schemes into the Integrated Building Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme for an easy one-stop application. Operation Building Bright 1.0 (OBB 1.0) The URA has given full support to the Government’s OBB 1.0 programme since its launch in 2009 and it is now substantially completed. About 2,440 building blocks (approximately 62,000 units) within URA’s Rehabilitation Scheme Areas (RSAs) have either been rehabilitated or had their rehabilitation works substantially completed. OBB 1.0 has successfully raised owners’ awareness of the need for rehabilitation as well as created employment opportunities, which was one of the original objectives of the scheme. Operation Building Bright 2.0 (OBB 2.0), Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme (FSW Scheme) and Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme (LIMS Scheme) In the 2017 Policy Address (October), the Government announced the launch of OBB 2.0 and the FSW Scheme. The primary scope of works to be subsidised under OBB 2.0 covers the prescribed inspection and repair works under the Mandatory Buildings Inspection Scheme (MBIS). Applications for OBB 2.0 (first round) and FSW Scheme ended on 31 October 2018 with about 580 eligible applications of OBB 2.0 and about 2,500 eligible applications of FSW Scheme received. Eligible applicants are being approached in phases to assist them in carrying out the necessary works under the schemes. eligible applications of OBB 2.0 eligible applications of FSW Scheme received 580 2,500