Page 44 - Urban Renewal Authority 2023-24 Annual Report

OPERATING REVIEW

Policy Address Initiatives

Support Service Centre for Minority Owners under Compulsory Sale (SMOCS)

To speed up the redevelopment of old and
dilapidated buildings by private sectors, the
Government tabled the Land (Compulsory Sale
for Redevelopment) (Amendment) Bill 2023 to
the Legislative Council in December 2023 with
suggestions to lower the compulsory sale
application thresholds and streamline the legal
process of compulsory sale regime. The Bill was
passed in July 2024 and is expected to be
effective at the end of 2024. SMOCS, a wholly-
owned subsidiary of the URA, has been
incorporated in June 2024 as the executive arm
of the Dedicated Office of Support Services for
Minority Owners under Compulsory Sale (DOSS)
under DEVB to deliver enhanced one-stop
support services to minority owners who are The Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn (centre), URA’s Chairman
subject to compulsory sale applications. Chow Chung-kong (right) and Managing Director Wai Chi-sing (left) officiate
at the opening ceremony of the Support Service Centre for Minority Owners
under Compulsory Sale.
The services will include educational
programmes, subsidised mediation, provision of independent third-party property valuation reports at a
concessionary cost, as well as referrals to professional services to handle compulsory sale litigation, counselling
services and relocation assistance.

Provision of Starter Homes (SH)

The 2020 Policy Address entrusted the URA with a new mission to actively provide more SH units in its
redevelopment projects, following the success of eResidence Towers 1 and 2. In response, the URA designated a
project at Chun Tin Street/Sung Chi Street as eResidence Tower 3. Of the 260 SH units of eResidence Tower 3,
173 (67 percent of the units) were sold at discounted prices to eligible first-time home buyers in March 2024. The
URA will roll out the remaining SH units later after seeking approval from the URA Board and discussing with the
Government on the sales arrangements.

Interested home buyers visit the show flats and view the building
models of eResidence Tower 3.

In collaboration with the Hong Kong Settlers Housing Corporation Limited (HKSHCL), the URA will provide
another 2,000 SH units in the redevelopment of Tai Hang Sai Estate, in addition to the 950 SH units supplied by
the CBS-2:KC project at Kau Pui Lung Road/Chi Kiang Street.

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