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Renewal Strategy that emphasises a people-oriented approach. To improve the overall environment in the older urban areas, the URA will have adequate statutory powers providing for streamlined planning and resumption procedures to implement a 20-year comprehensive urban renewal programme consisting of 200 urban redevelopment projects and the 25 uncompleted projects of the LDC. Urban renewal will include the redevelopment of dilapidated buildings, the rehabilitation of older buildings and the preservation of buildings of historical, cultural or architectural interest.
The Planning Department has completed an Urban Renewal Strategy Study to examine the urban renewal problem and to form the basis for the formulation of an overall strategy to tackle the problem. The study has identified 200 priority urban renewal projects as well as various preservation proposals for the URA to implement upon its establishment. Based on the findings of the study, the Government will draw up an Urban Renewal Strategy to guide the URA in speeding up the process of urban renewal. The Secretary for Planning and Lands will consult the public before finalising the Urban Renewal Strategy.
To facilitate private sector participation in urban renewal, the Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance was brought into operation in June 1999. Under the new legislation, an owner (or owners) of 90 per cent or more of the undivided shares of a lot may apply to the Lands Tribunal for an order to sell the whole lot for the purpose of redevelopment. This will help the private sector overcome the site assembly difficulties that often hold up the urban renewal process.
Planning Studies
During the year, the Planning Department worked on several major development proposals, notably the Western District Development Strategy; South-East Kowloon Reclamation; Remaining Development in Tung Chung and Tai Ho; Port Back-up and Land Requirements; Intensification and Extension of Tseung Kwan O New Town and the Northshore Lantau Development Feasibility Study. Studies completed included Sustainable Development for the 21st Century; Feasibility Study for Additional Cross-Border Links Stages I & II, Review of Framework for Industrial Land Provision and Reservation Strategy, Survey of Housing Aspirations of Households (1999), and the Cross Boundary Travel Study.
Apart from planning studies for the five sub-regions of Hong Kong already mentioned, the ongoing studies carried out by the Planning Department included the Study on Urban Design Guidelines for Hong Kong, Planning and Development Study on Hong Kong Island South and Lamma, Study on Revitalisation of Tai O, Setting Up of a 3-Dimensional Digital Model for the Main Urban Area of Hong Kong, Study on Village Improvement and Upgrading of Lei Yue Mun Areas, and the Study on Development Opportunities of the Former Marine Police Headquarters Site in Tsim Sha Tsui.
The Planning Department commenced five studies in 2000, namely Hong Kong 2030: Planning Vision and Strategy Review, a Study to Examine Ways to Centralise and Disseminate Planning Data, a study on electronic application submission and a planning information management centre, a Study to Analyse the Broad Land Use Pattern of Hong Kong and a Second Survey to Ascertain the Parameters for Forecasting Employment Distribution.