Urban Decay & Urban Redevelopment

At present, there are about 9 300 private buildings in the Metro Area (i.e. Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing) which are 30 years' old and above. In ten years' time, the number of buildings over 30 years' old will increase by 50%.

What are the problems of urban decay?

1) Old Housing & Poor living condition Buildings are overcrowded and provision of facilities are sub-standard. 2) Poor environmental conditions

e.g. narrow streets, poor drainage, congestion and pollution.

3) Poor pedestrian linkage system Such as insufficient pavements, intrusive vehicular

traffic & poor pedestrian network liking housing areas with commercial and community facilities.

4) Concentration of poor people and new immigrants

The poor conditions cause richer people to move out of the area, leaving low-income people and immigrants behind.Lack of open space

Urban Renewal Target Areas

Ma Tau KokTai Kok Tsui Sham Shui PoYau Ma TeiKwun TongSai Ying PunWan ChaiTsuen WanYau Long

In what ways can urban

redevelopment solve the problem? The policy of URA is based on the people-oriented approach

Four Directions of Urban Renewal in Hong Kong:

★ Redevelopment★ Conservation★ Revitalisation

★ Rehabilitation

Redevelopment

The sites with old, dilapidated buildings with poor living conditions will be replanned and rebuilt to achieve clear environmental and social benefits such as open space and community facilities.Restructuring the local road and transport network and open spaces, to achieve a better utilization of land and improve the overall district environment.

URA's early launch project: the Fuk Wing Street/Fuk Wah Street project in Sham Shui Po

after redevelopment

Conservation

to retain and enhance Hong Kong's unique culture and heritage. This will include the preservation of buildings with historical, architectural and cultural value and the retention of the local colour and character of different districts.

The preserved Western Market with its unique Edwardian architecture

Revitalisation

strengthen the design and quality of local features in run-down districts such as by turning streets into pedestrian districts with different themes.

Rehabilitation

seeks to prevent the decay of the built environment of Hong Kong by promoting and assisting the maintenance and improvement of individual buildings by owners.

Example of a Pre-war Building 

before Rehabilitation

Example of a Pre-war Building 

after Rehabilitation

The problems related to urban redevelopment

Difficulty in property resumption - difficult to buy all the buildings needed for redevelopment because of the

complex land and property ownership in these areas

Residents’ objection - Fear loss of their present business or jobs as they are often

poverty-stricken - The rent and living expenditure will be higher if they move out

the region - The aged residents want to preserve the social bonds and the

neighbourhood

High cost of redevelopment - Involves a lot of time and money in compensation, which delay the

renewal projects

References:

http://www.ura.org.hk/http://www.info.gov.hk/planning/index_c.htm