Page 51 - URA Annual Report 2021-22

Urban decay is too extensive and complex to be resolved by mere renewal works using existing resources which are far from adequate in any case. The success of urban renewal therefore hinges very much upon building rehabilitation to prolong service life, without which a building of 50 years old will fast become dilapidated and might even require demolition. In contrast, a building with proper and regular maintenance can last 80 years or even longer.
It is therefore essential to bring home the message that building rehabilitation and preventive maintenance are the keys to improve living condition and tackle ageing of buildings in the long term.
While the URA, on one hand, assists the Government to provide financial subsidies to building owners across the territory to carry out repair and maintenance works to the common area and facilities, it also trialled on adopting a ‘district-based rehabilitation approach’ in Kowloon City, in which targeted rehabilitation proposals are formulated for buildings at different ages and conditions within a selected area so that the overall conditions of the buildings within the district can be modernised. In the meantime, extra financial incentive is being explored to encourage owners to build up funding reserve for implementing regular maintenance plan in the future.
Technical and financial assistance aside, the URA has also launched a series of self-help tools on its all-in-one online platform and set up the city’s first of its kind Building Rehabilitation Resources Centre to strengthen owners’ capabilities to organise building rehabilitation works on their own, forging a stronger sense of responsibility and greater participation.
URA ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22 45
Operating Review Corporate Sustainability Management Discussion and Analysis Projects at a Glance Corporate Governance