Page 59 - Urban Renewal Authority 2023-24 Annual Report

Care for Elderly Home Owners Chairman’s Statement
Acquisition offers made to owners who lease out their properties are typically lower than those offered to owners
who reside in their own properties. However, the URA recognises that some elderly property owners may rent
out their properties for rental income to support their living. Additionally, some elderly property owners may not
be able to reside in their own properties due to a lack of lift services or other health-related reasons.
Managing Director’s Statement
In acknowledgement of their unique circumstances, the URA provides an additional allowance to enable these
elderly owners to purchase replacement flats of a higher quality and standard, such as those with lift services.
The URA always goes the extra mile to take special care of elderly home owners. In the past year, we succeeded Operating Review
in building trust with a depressed old lady who lived alone in a flat affected by our redevelopment project and
helping her identify and move to a much-improved accommodation while her husband with dementia continued
to stay in a care and attention home.

Care for Tenants
The URA offers rehousing and allowances to domestic tenants who need
to vacate from their rented homes due to URA’s redevelopment. Instead
of receiving a one-off ex-gratia allowance, eligible tenants may opt for 277 Corporate Sustainability
rehousing to public rental housing or URA’s rehousing blocks. Rehoused
tenants will experience a significant improvement in their quality of life The number of tenants in URA
with larger and better managed living space, and considerably lower rent. redevelopment projects that
The provision of public rental housing helps resolve tenants’ long-term were rehoused to public
housing needs. housing or URA’s rehousing
blocks in 2023/24

Care for Affected Businesses
Apart from offering ex-gratia allowances to the affected business
operators, the URA provides further assistance on their relocation. In a
case of relocating an elderly home business with special re-establishment
requirements, the URA sourced replacement properties for the operator, Management Discussion and Analysis
which were scarcely available in the market. The operator eventually
relocated their elderly residents smoothly and the residents’ living
conditions were greatly improved with the provision of new facilities. The
operator expressed their gratitude to the URA for our care and efforts.

Engagement with Market-Related Shops, Chiu-chow and
Thai Businesses in Kowloon City
Kowloon City is characterised by local shops that offer a diverse range of
products and services from market-related food items to Chiu-chow and
Thai food supply stalls and restaurants. In anticipation of the URA’s major 100% & 82% Projects at a Glance
redevelopment projects in Kowloon City, the URA has been conducting
surveys and engaging with shop operators with local characters to identify Participation rates of market-
their specific needs and preferences for interim and/or permanent related food items vendors
decanting arrangements that allow them to return for business with and Chiu-chow/Thai restaurant
concessionary rent in the new development. These engagements are shop owners in URA’s small
ongoing and the findings will be analysed for detailed planning and group engagements for
phasing of project implementation. Kowloon City Redevelopment Corporate Governance

URA ANNUAL REPORT 2023-24 57