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Sunday, Dec 29, 2024
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URA to survey Sai Wan Ho landlords on necessity of redevelopment
Landlords of around 250 older buildings at Sai Wan Ho will be asked whether they find redevelopment necessary, said Urban Renewal Authority managing director Wai Chi-sing.
It will be the first time the authority will issue a redevelopment demand survey to property owners. The survey will cover owners of buildings which are 30 years old or above on Shau Kei Wan Road.
The survey forms part of the feasibility study of URA projects in the Eastern District, where its 24 hectares includes Chai Wan Road in Chai Wan and King's Road, which runs along the northern part of Hong Kong Island.
Similar feasibility studies were conducted in a number of old districts, including Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon City and Eastern District.
He said that the reason for choosing to launch the scheme in Sai Wan Ho is because of its relatively small size as compared to Tsuen Wan, Sham Shui Po, and Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok district.
"There are different kinds of buildings in the area, including private housing and those developed under the Civil Servants' Cooperative Building Society scheme," Wai said.
He added that the area also includes some old facilities, underused lands such as waste collection points and temporary parking lots, and even unused lands.
The URA has commissioned engineering consultants to send letters to the landlords, inviting them to fill in the questionnaire about their properties.
They will be asked about whether there are owners' corporations for the buildings, and whether the residents hired property management companies.
Other questions include whether the building has lifts, if an urgent repair is necessary, and whether there are subdivided units inside the block.
"The authorities will also gauge opinions of the owners on the future inclusion of their properties in redevelopment projects, such as whether they wish to redevelop the blocks or repair them," Wai said.
The URA expected to complete the survey by the end of this year and commence detailed data analysis next year at the earliest, which will be reviewed together with the feasibility study of the whole district.
The survey forms part of the feasibility study of URA projects in the Eastern District, where its 24 hectares includes Chai Wan Road in Chai Wan and King's Road, which runs along the northern part of Hong Kong Island.
Similar feasibility studies were conducted in a number of old districts, including Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon City and Eastern District.
He said that the reason for choosing to launch the scheme in Sai Wan Ho is because of its relatively small size as compared to Tsuen Wan, Sham Shui Po, and Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok district.
"There are different kinds of buildings in the area, including private housing and those developed under the Civil Servants' Cooperative Building Society scheme," Wai said.
He added that the area also includes some old facilities, underused lands such as waste collection points and temporary parking lots, and even unused lands.
The URA has commissioned engineering consultants to send letters to the landlords, inviting them to fill in the questionnaire about their properties.
They will be asked about whether there are owners' corporations for the buildings, and whether the residents hired property management companies.
Other questions include whether the building has lifts, if an urgent repair is necessary, and whether there are subdivided units inside the block.
"The authorities will also gauge opinions of the owners on the future inclusion of their properties in redevelopment projects, such as whether they wish to redevelop the blocks or repair them," Wai said.
The URA expected to complete the survey by the end of this year and commence detailed data analysis next year at the earliest, which will be reviewed together with the feasibility study of the whole district.
