XN000022-1995-03-08 — Page 57

45 -

Review of urban renewal policy

Following is a question by the Hon Albert Chan Wai-yip and a reply by the Deputy Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Canice Mak, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Two motions were passed by this Council in the 1991-92 and 1993-94 sessions, urging the Government to review its urban renewal policy with a view to improving the compensation and rehousing arrangements for the affected property owners and tehants of redevelopment projects as well as improving the social effectiveness of such schemes. Despite its undertaking to carry out a review of the policy, the Government has so far not reported the outcome of such review to this Council. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

Answer:

Mr President,

what progress has been made so far in its review of the urban renewal policy; whether the Government has drawn up any concrete proposals for deliberation by this Council; and

whether it will consider injecting more funds to help rehouse residents affected by redevelopment or adopting other measures so as to enhance the Land Development Corporation's capability of undertaking urban redevelopment projects, in order to speed up the urban renewal process?

We will shortly be consulting Members of this Council, through the Planning, Lands and Works Panel, on a package of measures aimed at facilitating urban renewal and redevelopment.

I do not want to pre-empt the final decision on the actual package and the consultation by giving details today but I can say that the package will be a comprehensive one. The main features are an expanded role for the Land Development Corporation as a primary agent of urban renewal and facilitator of private sector projects, more emphasis on the relocation of both residents and businesses affected by redevelopment projects and some changes to the system of ex- gratia allowances for such persons. There are also some new initiatives in the areas of owner participation and in making projects viable, which in normal circumstances would not be so.

End/Wednesday, March 8, 1995