ENG-2012 — Page 248

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Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation

district or at other available sites. A site at the Kai Tak Development Area was handed over to the URA in July 2012 for the 'Flat-for-Flat' scheme.

Under the new strategy, the URA may respond to a joint approach from building owners to initiate redevelopment of their buildings through a new 'demand-led' scheme launched in 2011. Apart from the 'demand-led' scheme, the URA may also provide assistance to owners to help them assemble titles for joint sale of their properties for redevelopment under a new 'facilitation' scheme provided by the Urban Redevelopment Facilitating Services Company Limited since 2011.

The first advisory District Urban Renewal Forum, set up in Kowloon City in 2011 to collect public views on district urban renewal planning, commissioned a planning study, a district social impact assessment study and Stage One of a public engagement programme in 2012. The forum is now preparing a draft plan for Kowloon City, taking into account the public views received and study findings, for Stage Two public engagement. The recommended Urban Renewal Plan for Kowloon City is expected to be ready in 2013.

The $500 million independent Urban Renewal Trust Fund was set up in 2011. New service contracts for the social service teams providing assistance and advice to residents affected by URA-redevelopment projects were issued under the Trust Fund in 2012. A new Urban Renewal Heritage Preservation and District Revitalisation Funding Scheme to provide support to urban renewal preservation and revitalisation projects proposed by the community was also launched in 2012.

To accelerate the renewal of old industrial areas to release land for residential or commercial development, the Financial Secretary invited the URA to launch a pilot scheme to redevelop industrial buildings in his 2012-13 Budget Speech. The URA has since identified two target projects and commenced the first one in October.

As at the end of December, the URA and its partners had commenced 56 redevelopment projects, including 10 taken over from the former Land Development Corporation, and four preservation projects.

Lifts and Escalators Safety

The Lifts and Escalators Ordinance was enacted in April with most provisions coming into operation in December, strengthening the regulatory control over the operation and maintenance of lifts and escalators to ensure their safety.

Heritage Conservation

Heritage Conservation Policy and New Initiatives

The Government's heritage conservation policy is 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 is given to development needs in the public interest, respect for private

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