Hong Kong Institute of Land Hong Kong Institute of Land AdministrationAdministration

香港土地行政學會香港土地行政學會1

Speaker: Ms. Almond LEE Speaker: Ms. Almond LEE Date: 7 Sept. 2010Date: 7 Sept. 2010

Hong Kong Institute of Land AdministrationHong Kong Institute of Land Administration (HKILA)(HKILA)

香港土地行政學會香港土地行政學會

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1. The main objective of the Institute is to develop and maintain professional standards of land administration in Hong Kong.2. It aims to contribute to the promotion of good land management/planning, and thereby to the improvement of land use upon which Hong Kong and its community depend.

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3. The Institute is growing consistently and its members constitute a body of professionals in land administration. The expertise of its members will be ultimately made available to the local community and particularly to the young practitioners of land administration who are to be professionals of the future.4. The Institute plans to publish research papers and journal of technical and academic interest to land administrators in Hong Kong

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FACTS on Hong Kong

EconomyHong Kong's economy is characterised by free

trade, low taxation and minimum government intervention. It is the world's 11th largest trading economy, with the mainland of China as its most significant trading partner. Hong Kong is also a major service economy, with particularly strong links to mainland China and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.

Currency: Hong Kong dollar GDP: HK$1,606.2 billion (2009) GDP per capita: HK$229,329 (2009) Real GDP growth: -2.7% (2009) Labour force: 3.70 million (2009)

FACTS on Hong KongGeographyAt the south-eastern tip of China, Hong

Kong covers Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories, including 262 outlying islands. Between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula lies Victoria Harbour, one of the world's most renowned deep-water harbours.

Total area: 1 104 square kilometres Land developed: less than 25% Country parks and nature reserves: 40%

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FACTS on Hong KongPopulationHong Kong's population was approximately 7.00

million in 2009. People of Chinese descent comprise the vast majority of the population, with foreign nationals comprising 5%.

Population density: 6 480 people per square kilometre

Crude birth rate: 11.7 per 1000 Percentage of population Chinese descent: 95% Other significant national groups

Indonesia (147 883 total) Philippines (140 708 total) Thailand (28 049 total).

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Shatin- Central Rail LinkShatin- Central Rail Link

EXPRESS RAIL LINK(XRL)EXPRESS RAIL LINK(XRL)

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Is urban renewal needed inIs urban renewal needed inHong Kong?Hong Kong?

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 More Sustainable Less Sustainable

Compact forms of residential Development.

Low-density, spread-out residential development.

Mixed land use; homes, jobs and shopping in close proximity/TD.

Segregation of land uses: homes, jobs and shopping separated into uniform tracts or concentrations.

Employment based primarily on education and skills.

Employment based primarily on environment polluting or non-renewable resource based industry.

Movement on foot and by bicycle and transit. Heavy dependence on private cars.

Wind and solar energy. Thermal and nuclear energy.

Tertiary treatment of sewage; use of natural means of sewage treatment.

Discharge of sewage into water bodies or water-courses untreated or with low level of treatment.

Protection and use of natural hydrologic systems. Hard surfaces preventing infiltration; channeling natural water-courses.

Natural open space; protection of wetlands, woodlands, stream valleys, habitat, etc.; use of manure, compost, integrated pest management, etc.

Destruction of natural landscape; "manicured" parkland with exotic species; heavy use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides.

Reduction of waste; recovery, re-use and recycling of waste materials.

Landfills, incinerators.17

Old Buildings in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon

Old buildings in To Kwa Wan Old buildings in To Kwa Wan DistrictDistrict

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Internal condition of old buildings Internal condition of old buildings in To Kwa Wan Districtin To Kwa Wan District

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The Pressing Problem of Urban Decay in Hong Kong

- There are about 4,000 buildings aged 50 years or above in Hong Kong.

-The number will grow by 500 a year over the next decade.

- Only 65 buildings per year were redeveloped by the HKSAR Urban Renewal Authority on average.

-- It is projected that 1,500 of the 18,000 buildings aged over 30 years across the territory are “markedly dilapidated” in condition.

Source: Report on the Inspection of Buildings aged 50 or above, Buildings Department, April 2010.

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The Pressing Problem of Urban Decay in Hong Kong

Redevelopments alone will neither be able to meet this urgent and increasing demand for housing need.

Growing discontent towards the land and housing policy, as property in the private sector in Hong Kong is unaffordable to the general public.

Supply of new formed land for urban development is getting more difficult.

Limitations on the availability of land for development of new towns in rural areas.

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Category Building Conditions Number ofBuildings Inspected

Cat. I Require emergency remedial works

2 (0.05%)

Cat. II Obvious defects found 1 030 (25.7%)

Cat. III Minor defects found 1 270 (31.7%)

Cat. IV No apparent defect 1 709 (42.6%)

Total 4 011 (100%)

Condition of buildings in Hong Kong

Source: Report on the Inspection of Buildings aged 50 or above, Buildings Department, April 2010

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What had been done?What had been done?

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The Current LAS in HKSAR

LANDS DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION CHART

•Head of LAOFormulation and Administration of Land Disposal ProgrammeSupervision of District Lands Offices

•ValuationAcquisition of LandEstate ManagementBlack Spots Task ForceRailway DevelopmentSlope Maintenance

Policy Background and Development/Progress of the URS

Initiated by Government of the SAR under two main strategies, viz: “First Sustainable Development Strategy” (SDS) in 1999 and the “Hong Kong 2030: Planning Vision and Strategy” (PVS) in 2001.

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Progress SDS HK 2030 PVS URS & URSR

Initiated 1999 2001 UR-1995

Public Consultation

2001-1st

2002-2nd

2003-3rd :Final Report , Oct. 2007

URS-1995-Consultation1996-UR Policy Statement1999/2000-URA2001-URS

Public Engagement Process

2004-2007,1st S D Strategy,Jan. 2007

Stage 4:Formulation of Development Strategies and Response Plans &Fourth Stage Public Consultation

URSR-• Envisioning Stage (July 2008 - January 2009) • Public Engagement Stage (February 2009 - December 2009)• Consensus BuildingStage (Jan. –April 2010)

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Following public consultation, the Planning & Lands Bureau (PLB) published the Urban Renewal Strategy in November 2001. The Strategy guides the work of the URA.

The Development Bureau will be sharing information and gathering public views for the Urban Renewal Strategy Review on how best to create a quality living environment for all Hong Kongers, while maintaining the unique character of our city.http://www.ura.org.hk/html/c300000e1e.html

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1. To capitalize on the past 20 years of valuable UR experience; [LCD, URA Redevelopment & 4 R]

2. To find a way to achieve a balanced approach to UR ; [urban decay Vs. community aspirations]

3. To stimulate in-depth discussions on future urban regeneration and the new challenges . [by involving

the whole community in the conduct of this review.]

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a process of land redevelopment in areas of previous moderate to high density urban land usein developed economies, urban regeneration projects revitalize the city center, implement initiatives to improve the quality of the environment and promote “a return to the city”in emerging economies qualitative initiatives must be aligned with quantitative requirements event-led urban regeneration is “opportunistic”, since public and private investors are looking for available land and opportunities for the big project

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A completed URA Redevelopment project at Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon

Project Site Information

 

Area : 3,869 square metresExisting GFA : 6,610 square metresAffected buildings : 19Affected population : 444

Project Development Information

 Total GFA : 32,012 square metresResidential flats : 576Open Space : 1,650 square metres

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Urban Renewal Authority Development Scheme Plans

Urban Renewal Authority Development Scheme Plans

Urban Renewal Authority Development Scheme Plans

Did they do a good Did they do a good job?job?

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Tenement Building collapse in Ma Tau Wai Road on

29.1.2010, killing 4 people

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URA Redevelopment Project in Lee Dong Street URA Redevelopment Project in Lee Dong Street (“Wedding Card Street” ), Wan Chai aroused great (“Wedding Card Street” ), Wan Chai aroused great

discontent among the shop ownersdiscontent among the shop owners

The winning film(in Berlin Film Festival) “Echoes of the Rainbow” led to all 12 pre-World War II old buildings in Central, which were about to be redeveloped, narrowly escaped the fate of demolition.

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Drawbacks of the Prevailing URS

Pace of renewal is slow (Tenement Building collapse in Ma Tau Wai Road on 29.1.2009)

Dramatic U-turn to the course of heritage preservation concerning an active redevelopment project in Wing Lee Street, Central, Hong Kong after the overseas success of an award winning film ‘Echoes of the Rainbow’

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Drawbacks of the Prevailing URS

The role of URA: A number of old buildings in the heart of the city have been transformed into mega commercial buildings. Huge profits were pocketed by URA and private developers; and URA alone made a net profit of HK$2 billion from eight completed projects in the past five years.

People start to query that the low compensation rate was intentionally set to make profitable development for the private developers, and doubt the role of URA.

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Drawbacks of the Prevailing URS People affected by URA Project have put up strong

resistance, leading to slow and difficult progress in land acquisition. It generates conflict and disrupts social harmony at the cost of society. It even contravenes the fundamental vision of urban renewal: To improve quality of life (i.e. every displaced or future residents of the urban renewal area should have a better life than before in all social, economic and environmental aspects).

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Drawbacks of the Prevailing URS

The past URS was evidence of poor governance for the HK Government as witnessed from the failure of the Land Development Corporation (LDC), predecessor of URA, to complete the committed project sites before 1999 as scheduled.

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A holistic URS with comprehensive planning is necessary to replace ad-hoc sporadic redevelopment The undesirable disputes and distrust

inevitably delayed the implementation of renewal projects, but could have been prevented had in-depth assessment survey and public consultation been introduced at an early stage to assess and take account of the general feeling of the owners, inhabitants and the public. The waste of manpower and public resources might also have been avoided.

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Any solution?Any solution?

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Good governance in land administration and land management institutions is essential for sustainable development (including urban renewal) both in terms of operational longevity, equitable stakeholder participation and benefits, and consistency in law and policy implementation

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In conjunction with good governance, the mindset of Urban Renewal should be changed as well.

The concept of Urban Regeneration and Smart Growth should be introduced.

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HKILA’s suggestions to URS Review:(1)To adopt a Regional Approach in place

of the existing District-based Approach to ensure sustainability of the URS;

(2) To establish a website and integrated geographical information system to ensure the equity of access and transparency;

(3) To provide workable options with greater flexibility in the compensation and re-housing policy for clearance of flats or shops to expedite the delivery of required land;

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HKILA’s suggestions to URS Review:(4) To organize local committees and

community services teams to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the bottom-up hierarchy; and

(5) To re-define the scope of the “Social Impact Assessment” and to reengineer the “Social Services Teams” in order to achieve the sustainability goal of the bottom-up hierarchy.

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a.Recognition of The L A as a Profession

b.Technical Development

c.Institutional Development

The Drivers For Modernisation of L A in HKSARSustainable Development Globalisation Technology Economic Transformation Urban Up-Grading Political ChangesCompetitivenessCivil Services Reform

a. Recognise the human resource development requirements in the modern LAS

b. The Establishment of the Land Administration Authority (L A A )

c. The Establishment of the Land Information Centre (LIC)

d. The Establishment of the L I S

e. The Establishment of One LAS

f. Unification/Centralization of the LAS of the HKSAR

Important aspects of good governanceParticipationFairnessResponsivenessEffectivenessAccountabilityTransparencyImproving service delivery

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Hong Kong Institute of Land AdministrationContact: e-mail address: secretary@hkila.org

Correspondence Address:P.O. Box No. 91015, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon,Hong Kong

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