Page 18 - Urban Renewal Authority 2023-24 Annual Report

MANAGING DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

Self-funded Subsidy Scheme for Preventive Maintenance – A New Building
Maintenance Concept
At the start of my term as Managing Director, I recognised that the key to achieving sustainable urban renewal
hinges on the effectiveness of building rehabilitation. I also believe that the guiding principle of “thinking ahead
and taking precautions” is the cornerstone for building maintenance and repair, with the ultimate aim of slowing
down the ageing of buildings from the source.
To this end, the URA launched a new Preventive Maintenance Subsidy Scheme in April 2024 that encourages
owners to maintain the condition of their buildings by proactively conducting maintenance and repair works from
a preventive standpoint. Owners of eligible buildings are also offered subsidies to cover the costs of compiling
building maintenance manuals, with guidelines and templates to help them formulate a 10-year maintenance
plan and estimate the associated costs. The Scheme also helps owners set up a dedicated fund for future
maintenance needs, with interest incentives to motivate regular contributions to the fund.
The Scheme has been well received by owners and property management professionals. In the first quarter after
its launch, the URA received a good number of applications, indicating owners’ acceptance of the preventive
maintenance concept — an important milestone in promoting building rehabilitation.

Embracing Technology to Meet Future Requirements
The URA has always emphasised the application of innovative technologies to enhance operational and project
management efficiency in urban renewal, examine future urban renewal needs and formulate viable strategies.
One example is our self-developed Urban Renewal Information System (URIS), which we have continuously
optimised since its launch. This system comes with a series of applications that help strengthen the internal
processing and analysis of spatial data and, in turn, improve efficiency in project planning, acquisition and
clearance, financial assessment and technical studies.

On the URIS applications, various planning data including land use,
building age, plot ratio, pedestrian network, green and recreational space
areas and others can be swiftly extracted by layers. This functionality
enables planners to efficiently conduct analyses, facilitating the
development of a holistic regeneration plan aimed at optimising land use
during the planning process.

Since 2021, we have also been utilising Three-Dimensional Intelligent Map (3D iMap) technology for the freezing
survey conducted at the onset of our redevelopment projects. This technology provides real-time, on-site
monitoring of survey progress and helps us deploy manpower more efficiently. We also analyse the living status
and demographic data of households via the 3D iMap to expedite future acquisition and rehousing efforts.

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