Page 7 - URA Annual Report 2021-22

Urban Renewal Grows from Strength to Strength
The year 2021/22 marked the 20th anniversary of the URA. I am also pleased to report that good progress has been made in various areas of urban redevelopment, rehabilitation, preservation and revitalisation. It demonstrated the organisation’s unwavering dedication to improve the built environment and the livelihood of residents in old districts. URA’s hard work over the years have laid a solid foundation for Hong Kong’s sustainable urban renewal.
Over the past two decades, the URA has built a strong professional team known for its innovation. They have implemented over 70 urban renewal projects. Dilapidated buildings in old districts have been transformed into modern, high-quality residential accommodations. The urban renewal process has also provided more greenery space, improved pedestrian environment and community facilities, thereby bringing broad social gains to the community.
In recent years, we have adopted a ‘planning-led, district-based’ approach to commence sizeable challenging redevelopment projects. We aim to generate greater social impact and community benefits so to improve living environment in old districts on the whole. This approach unleashes the development potential of land by incorporating under-used streets, under-utilised government land and aged community facilities into the master development plans through restructuring and replanning of land uses with new planning tools.
In addition to our main roles and responsibilities of urban renewal, the URA has also diligently supported the Government in implementing various building rehabilitation subsidy schemes. Given the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the URA has also provided rent relief to its domestic and commercial tenants, helping them through this difficult time. So far, the amount of rent relief has already exceeded $200 million. Besides financial support, the URA also supported residents living in cramped environments or poor sanitary conditions in dilapidated areas with various schemes to combat the COVID-19 virus.
Chairman’s Statement Managing Director’s Statement Operating Review Corporate Sustainability Management Discussion and Analysis Projects at a Glance Corporate Governance
URA ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22 5