Urban Renewal Authority 2018-19 Annual Report

73 MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Human Resources To better equip the URA with sufficient manpower to take up the challenges, there was a slight increase in the actual headcount in 2018/19 compared to the previous year. To nurture a leadership pipeline, the URA Future Leaders Programme has been implemented to develop promising General Managers and Senior Managers. Core Career Ladders which provide clear and transparent career paths for URA staff were also introduced in 2018/19. At the same time, in order to attract, motivate and retain young qualified professionals with satisfactory performance, combined establishment was introduced to allow more upward move for these professional staff. To equip the workforce with the proper mind-set, knowledge and skills required to apply innovation and technology in their work, training programmes in 2018/19 focussed on building our staffs’ ability to apply the latest technology into their work; broadening their horizon and exposure via visits and talks delivered by external experts; and further enhancing their skills through various Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), BIM and GIS workshops. At the organisation level, and to support the urban renewal directions, divisional reviews were carried out leading towards better alignment and organisational effectiveness. To promote a culture of continuous improvement, Staff Suggestion Scheme and Work Improvement Team initiatives have been sustained to help our staff develop and apply their innovative ideas into tasks, in order to improve work procedures and to enhance efficiency. Outlook Hong Kong’s rapidly ageing building stock remains the key challenge. Implementing urban renewal in a sustainable manner is the overarching goal of the holistic approach adopted by the URA. Through the strategically important YMDS and New Building Rehabilitation Strategy Study, the URA has taken a forward-looking vision towards devising ways to address the rising tide of urban decay. Although the URA currently enjoys a strong cash position, the financial ground has inevitably shifted beneath us with high acquisition costs, relatively high construction costs and cautious outlook on future property market. The URA has taken a critical look at various means to continue to chart our way forward. The objective remains to deliver a sustainable and holistic urban renewal programme that meets the needs and expectations of the community in changing economic and market conditions.