Page 51 - Urban Renewal Authority 2023-24 Annual Report

Community Making at Staunton Street/Shing Wong Street Neighbourhood Chairman’s Statement
(With 88-90 Staunton Street as Grade II Historic Building)
To promote sustainable community development, the URA is committed to regenerating the Staunton Street/
Shing Wong Street neighbourhood by implementing preservation and revitalisation strategies, as well as
pursuing community making initiatives to leverage local community resources to achieve “renewal by the district
and for the district”.
Following the completion of revitalisation works of Managing Director’s Statement
URA’s acquired buildings in the neighbourhood in
February 2023 and the appointment of co-living
operator in late 2023, the 38 domestic units in the
revitalised buildings which have been put to adaptive
reuses as co-living spaces under the name “Habyt
Bridges”, were opened in 2024.

Working towards the visions of community development
suggested in the Community Making Study, in the past
year the URA continued to carry out place-making and Operating Review
community engagement activities in the area including
community farms, workshops and an exhibition named
“Tong Lau Experience” displaying the living environment The new co-living spaces, which were originally domestic units in
of old tenement buildings. In September 2023, residents the old tenement buildings in Staunton Street/Shing Wong
and community stakeholders were invited to gather in Street neighbourhood, are opened for leasing after renovation
the neighbourhood with colourful lanterns decorations and revitalisation.
and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival together. The
community making process will move forward with the
community visions converged from existing Corporate Sustainability
neighbourhood, injecting impetus from new community
members including both the operator and the residents.

(Left) Community members and stakeholders celebrate the Mid- Management Discussion and Analysis
Autumn Festival in the neighbourhood decorated with colourful
lanterns.
(Above) “Tong Lau Experience” features the original layout of old
tenement units and an exhibition of vintage furnishings, providing
visitors with an immersive experience of the nostalgic charm of the
past. Projects at a Glance

To reinforce the neighbourhood’s distinctive character, artistic elements such as artists’ murals commissioned by
the URA have been woven into the built environment. The URA will keep on promoting rehabilitation to building
owners in the area and explore opportunities for the creation of artists’ murals with a view to fostering greater
synergy with the neighbourhood.
The project was honoured with the Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP) Awards 2023: Silver Award. Corporate Governance

URA ANNUAL REPORT 2023-24 49