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Planning, Land and Infrastructure

The office provides free web maps and mobile applications to the public. Since December, Map Application Programming Interface services, the 3D Pedestrian Network dataset and 3D Visualisation Maps providing photorealistic 3D models of the built environment have been made available to the public free of charge.

The office's Hong Kong GeoData Store, an alpha version of the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure (CSDI) portal, made about 200 open spatial datasets available for free download by the public. The office also maintains the Satellite Positioning Reference Station Network. System, which forms the essential positioning infrastructure in Hong Kong for mapping, construction, navigation, land use planning and research. It has been upgraded to support the navigation satellite systems of the Mainland and Europe.

Development of Common Spatial Data Infrastructure

CSDI facilitates the development of smart applications using standardised spatial data. To showcase CSDI, an Interactive Map Dashboard of COVID-19 and three Map Application Programming Interface services were rolled out to the public in February and December respectively.

Building Safety and Maintenance

Ensuring the safety of Hong Kong's ageing building stock is one of the bureau's key duties. It works with the Buildings Department and partner organisations to enhance building safety.

Applying the principle that prevention is better than cure, the Buildings Department enforces the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme and Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme to tackle building decay at its root by requiring owners of target buildings to inspect and repair their buildings and windows. In 2020, the department issued statutory notices to 403 buildings for building inspections and 488 for window inspections under these schemes.

The Buildings Department, URA and the Hong Kong Housing Society support building owners in carrying out repairs and maintenance. In 2020, subsidies and loans exceeding $130 million were granted to eligible property owners. In addition, a further $3 billion was injected into Operation Building Bright 2.0 and $2 billion into the Building Maintenance Grant Scheme for Needy Owners.

The URA's 'Smart Tender' Building Rehabilitation Facilitating Services scheme provides technical support to building owners in carrying out repairs and maintenance to reduce the risk of bid rigging during procurement. Eligible building owners may participate at a concessionary rate. As at 31 December, some 1,300 applications had been approved since the scheme began in 2016.

On enforcement, the Buildings Department acts against unauthorised building works (UBWs). It takes priority enforcement against UBWs that are new or under construction, and those which constitute an obvious hazard or imminent danger to life and property. UBWs are to be removed according to the department's enforcement policy if they have been erected on building exteriors, including rooftops, podiums and yards; are associated with subdivided units; are found in New Territories exempted houses; or are signboards. In 2020, the department

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