Urban Renewal Authority 2018-19 Annual Report

48 OPERATING REVIEW In the 2018 Policy Address, the Government announced the launch of LIMS Scheme at a cost of around $2.5 billion. Modelled on the OBB 2.0 and FSW Scheme, the LIMS Scheme promotes lift modernisation in the community through financial incentives with professional support to building owners in need, and is aimed at enhancing the safety of aged lifts, and thereby public safety. The Government partnered with URA in the implementation of the scheme. It is estimated to benefit around 5,000 aged lifts within six years, taking into consideration the industry’s capacity to handle the additional lift modernisation works under the LIMS Scheme. The first round of application for the LIMS Scheme started on 29 March 2019 and closed on 1 August 2019 and applicants will be notified of the results in the 4th quarter of 2019. In the meantime, promotion activities of the LIMS Scheme, such as public briefing sessions, announcements in TV and radio and briefings to district councils are in progress. Integrated Building Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme (IBRAS), previously known as Integrated Building Maintenance Assistance Scheme Owners’ Corporations (OCs) formed IBRAS cases in progress 700 720 Beginning in 2004 and until June 2019, about 1,680 building blocks (around 73,100 units) have been rehabilitated under various URA assistance schemes. About 700 Owners’ Corporations (OCs) have been formed under the Owners’ Corporation Formation Subsidy of IBRAS. Currently, there are a total of 720 IBRAS cases in progress (about 610 cases for common area repair works and 110 cases for OC formation). Mandatory Building Inspection Subsidy Scheme (MBISS) The implementation of MBIS covering all buildings 30 years of age or older came into force on 30 June 2012, and the URA duly launched the MBISS in conjunction with the HKHS on 7 August 2012. Under this Scheme, URA assists building owners to arrange first inspections of buildings within its RSAs, which are subject to statutory notices issued by the Buildings Department. Owners of buildings, which on inspection are found to require rehabilitation, may apply for rehabilitation works assistance under IBRAS, with URA providing a one-stop continual building care service. Until 30 June 2019, about 600 building blocks (approximately 15,600 units) have begun or completed inspection under the MBISS. Since the URA is the Government’s sole partner in OBB 2.0, all buildings in Hong Kong eligible for OBB 2.0, whether they are located in HKHS Service Areas or URA Service Areas, will be assisted by URA for compliance with MBIS regarding inspections and repair works. To provide coherent and effective services, URA has taken over MBISS in HKHS’s Service Areas and acts as a single authority to implement MBISS with effect from the launch of OBB 2.0 in July 2018. A series of promotional materials and activities including poster and briefing sessions help building owners understand the details of Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme.