ENG-2007 — Page 275

Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation ❘ 223

Urban Renewal

The policy objective of urban renewal is to improve the living conditions of residents in older urban areas while endeavouring to preserve their local character and social network.

The Development Bureau formulates the overall urban renewal policy, and provides support and policy guidance to the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) which was established in May 2001 to undertake urban renewal. The Urban Renewal Strategy, published by the Government in November 2001, sets out the policy. guidelines for the URA's work.

The URA adopts a holistic '4R' approach to regenerate old urban areas, involving redeveloping dilapidated buildings, rehabilitating old buildings, revitalising old districts, and preserving buildings with historical, cultural or architectural value within its project areas.

By end-2007, the URA and its strategic partner, the Hong Kong Housing Society, had commenced 34 redevelopment projects, including the massive Kwun Tong Town Centre redevelopment project. Some of the projects, such as the Nga Tsin Wai Village project in Wong Tai Sin have preservation elements. URA was also tasked by the Chief Executive in his 2007-08 Policy Address to extend the scope of historic building protection to cover pre-war buildings for adaptive re-use.

To assist owners in need of rehabilitating their buildings, the URA had provided them with materials, interest-free loans, grant and other assistance. The URA also carried out revitalisation initiatives in various old districts. In end-December 2007, the Development Bureau and the URA announced an overall plan to revitalise the older part of Wan Chai on an area basis.

Heritage Conservation

Heritage Conservation Policy and New Initiatives

From July 2007, Works Branch of the newly formed Development Bureau became responsible for the policy on development-related heritage conservation transferred from the Home Affairs Bureau. In tandem with rising public aspirations for the protection of valuable heritage in Hong Kong, the bureau adopted a policy statement to guide heritage conservation work in the years to come: 'To protect, conserve and revitalise as appropriate historical and heritage sites and buildings through relevant and sustainable approaches for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. In implementing this policy, due regard will be given to development needs in public interest, respect for private property rights, budgetary considerations, cross-sector collaboration and active engagement of stakeholders and the general public'.

The bureau drew up a series of new initiatives in October 2007 to press ahead the heritage conservation work, including: