Page 18 - URA Annual Report 2021-22

MANAGING DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
(3) Enhancing the ‘integrated approach’ of urban renewal
The planning studies we have undertaken are not limited to districts with large clusters of ageing buildings such as Yau Mong, but also cover areas where there are already redevelopment projects completed by the private sector. These areas are characterised by a mix of individual single-block buildings constructed in recent years and aged buildings, coupled with a lack of coordination in the overall planning and design for the built environment of the area. In view of this, the challenge for future urban regeneration lies in integrating old and new elements at the planning level, while increasing community facilities and retaining the local characteristics.
Having a chat with street shop operators in Kowloon City to learn about their business environment.
The URA will use the urban renewal work in Kowloon City as a pilot to test the ‘integrated approach’ by way of redevelopment, district-based rehabilitation, and the revitalisation works carried out in the district, to improve the overall built environment and the blending of old and new cityscapes upon redevelopment.
The adoption of this integrated approach to urban renewal works will involve considerable expenses as it not only incurs costs for the acquisition of property titles, but also involves the construction of new government facilities and work on rehabilitation, retrofitting, district preservation and revitalisation. Going forward, we shall carefully study the cost implications on our financial reserves and work accordingly, setting aside sufficient resources for the implementation of the integrated approach in our projects.
(4) Promoting preventive maintenance among owners of new buildings
To achieve the long-term objective of self-initiated maintenance amongst building owners, which involves a wide range of responsibilities and interests, a step-by-step approach is essential.
The first priority is to encourage owners and the industry to carry out repair and maintenance works proactively following the completion of their buildings. By beefing up our promotional strategies and providing incentives, we hope that building owners and the industry can gradually build awareness of the need to carry out preventive maintenance.
To achieve this, the URA will test preventive maintenance measures in the second phase of eResidence to be launched next year. Guidelines and regulations will be added to the Deed of Mutual Covenant requiring owners to draw up a regular maintenance plan for the building and set money aside as reserves for future execution of the maintenance plan.
In addition, based on our experience and insights in promoting building rehabilitation, we will work with the property management industry to develop a standard manual of building maintenance for new development projects. The manual will assist owners of these private buildings to draw up regular maintenance plans from the time when they move in.
In the event that these non-legislative initiatives fail to achieve the desired results, we will work with the Government in the longer term to review and consider amending relevant legislation on mandatory building inspection in the Building Management Ordinance and Buildings Ordinance.
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