ENG-2018 — Page 246

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Planning, Land and Infrastructure

Urban Renewal

Urban renewal improves living conditions in old urban areas, primarily through redevelopment and rehabilitation of dilapidated buildings in need of repair. The bureau formulates policy on urban renewal and oversees the work of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA).

The URA is taking forward district-based projects in Kowloon City. It is also undertaking a district planning study to explore ways of enhancing the efficiency of existing land use and the redevelopment potential in Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok.

Building Development

Private Sector

In 2018, superstructure works covering a gross floor area of 1.07 million sq m in 90 sites started. Altogether 732 such buildings, with a gross floor area of 2.6 million sq m, were completed at a cost of $99 billion, compared with 704 buildings with a gross floor area of 2.38 million sq m built at a cost of $89 billion in 2017.

Public Sector

The Architectural Services Department develops and upkeeps most government buildings and public facilities, except public housing. It takes into account the views of stakeholders in improving barrier-free, greening and landscaping features at government facilities. In 2018, the department started construction of 40 projects, including disciplined services quarters for the Fire Services Department at Pak Shing Kok, Tseung Kwan O, the first pilot public project in Hong Kong to adopt modular integrated construction. Twenty-seven projects were completed, including schools, community green stations, open spaces and government quarters.

Regional and international awards won by government projects during the year included those from the Architects Regional Council Asia and the Asia Pacific Federation of Project Management.

Built Heritage Conservation

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 of present and future generations. Due regard is given to development needs in the public interest, respect for private property rights, budget considerations, cross-sectoral collaboration and the engagement of stakeholders and the public.

The Built Heritage Conservation Fund operates two funding schemes to support public engagement and research. Nine applications from professional and academic institutes were approved, with a total grant of around $17.3 million in 2018. The selected projects have started and will be completed in two years.

As at the year end, 12 projects launched under the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme of the bureau's Commissioner for Heritage's Office (CHO) had started

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