Findings and Discussion on an evaluation of the effectiveness of urban renewal under Urban Renewal Authority(Chapter 7)

        This chapter of the research presents and summarizes the findings of whole research that are driven from the questionnaire, interview, case study, and desk research.

    By going through the URAO or Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance which HKSAR government legislates, it is analyzed that URA is almost like a quasi-redevelopment agency. This way they turn their projects more profitable. Through reviewing some of the media reports on the local projects, critics often target the increases prices due to the redevelopment. Media critiques have expressed that redevelopment turns into gentrification. Additionally, for knowing the depth of URA, an interview was utilized for proper research, and it revealed the connection between developers, URA, and government (Yin, 2018).

    A project regarding the Kwun Tong Town is one of the biggest redevelopment projects in Hong Kong. The site area occupies almost 570,000 sq. Feet of the area. This will be the biggest project worked upon by URA affecting almost 5,000 people. In the area, most buildings were constructed in the 1960s while the 24 buildings were developed forty years ago. Temporary structures, black-lane hawker, and poor sanitary conditions affect the living conditions. In the plans, community facilities, residential developments and so on are included. In Kwun Tong, a landmark building will be built once the project is finished. There are many hurdles in the path of project implementation actually: In the project, property interests are about 1,600, residents about 5,000, and shops around 500 were impacted.

    Handling the redesigning arrangements along with the care of stakeholders is not an easy task. Due to the huge scale, a lot of property interests were included which needed to reflect the exact figures in the market as well. For offering prices, eleven independent surveyors were fixed. It was their responsibility to take market current conditions and compensation policies of URA into account. The renewal, it is a major project and needs to recognize elements such as local factors, a height of buildings, and authentic density for production and redevelopment. In the town center, it is also necessary and a goal for meeting the requirements of locals by offering low priced shops and flats. 3 billion dollars is the development cost and rising for the project which has been adapted by URA. Regardless of the involvement of higher financial stakes, the primary aim of URA is to look over the residents and community. A lot of benefits in terms of an economy will also come along with a huge investment.

    In 2012 actually, the redevelopment center scheme of Kwun Tong Town was commenced. Private interest’s acquisition was undertaken the rate of success was over eight percent. For clearing all the ownership titles, the statutory power was exercised by the government in and around Phase 1. Within the area, the buildings are actually under demolition and will be redesigned with the beginning of the upcoming year.

    The outcome of the interview showed that opinions of people were quite similar to the ones recorded in the previous studies. Though most people have the belief that with urban development, business would be boosted, job opportunities would be created along with many other benefits as well. Compared to the other redevelopment projects, this one gives a reasonable outcome in Hong Kong. For instance, Mongkok Six Streets is the project, and it brought different advantages to the community and district. In 1989 February, the project had initiated and had taken almost sixteen years to finish and involved 11 years for approval. It ended with the five years of nothing but constructing. 1.8 million sq. The project started by URA had boosted feet. It included the shopping mall of 15-level and a hotel of 665-room.

    With this project, a lot of people below the line have been helped, and it has assisted many occupants of old buildings moving to stylish and new buildings with compensations. The compensation was offered by the project, and it made sure that occupants didn't have to pay a lot for moving into the flat or a house. Another benefit that comes with the redevelopment is the enhancement of various economic processes and activities in the vicinity. With the introduction of Langham Place, the retail business has upgraded while the buildings have rehabilitated within the neighborhood.

    Most of the shop owners are young minds with innovative ideas. Over 2,000 workers have been employed for the office tower, shopping mall, and hotel management. This project brought a lot of opportunities for jobs and enhancement of the environment. Over 200,000 visitors were also attracted by this project, and it helped a lot in boosting tourism. The business in Hong Kong due to it was boosted as well. After all, tourism benefitted a lot. Residents believe that the project of Kwun Tong Town will receive the same outcomes if not better.

Recommendations on an evaluation of the effectiveness of urban renewal under Urban Renewal Authority

This section of the research suggests possible recommendations to the Urban Renewal Authority to increase its effectiveness and work efficiency.

It can be recommended to the Urban Renewal Authority for the redevelopment of the projects in Kwun Tong Town center that the authority needs to more emphasis on the urban renewal program so that there could be the sustainability of the building and environment. However, it needs to be focused that buildings and environment need to be more sustainable, for the consideration of housing.

The Projects Need to Be Financially Sustainable on an evaluation of the effectiveness of urban renewal under Urban Renewal Authority

    It needs to be noticed by the Urban Renewal Authority, that the projects should be financially sustainable as it was important for economic activity. However, for the financial sustainability, there is a need to effectively notice the transport issues, infrastructure provision as well as the affordable and accessible housing so that people or every stakeholder can be given the benefits. The projects need to be more financially stable so that there could be benefits for the different income groups and so that there could be revenues through urban projects. The investment components need to financially efficient as the planning framework need to be based on environmental friendly components.

The Projects Need To Be Environmentally Sustainable on an evaluation of the effectiveness of urban renewal under Urban Renewal Authority

    For the benefits of the Urban Renewal Authority and well as the stakeholders the projects need to be environmentally sustainable as it is also the community service obligation under the urban environment. To make the projects environmentally sustainable, there is the need to focus on the practices that are related to the sanitation, air pollution, and liquid waste management, etc. It is recommended that for economic development, there should be better contamination of water bodies in the construction, commissioning so that project can make environmental friendly for all the stakeholders. Through noticing the investment components, it needs to be concerned that material that is used in the project should be based on environmental friendly mechanisms.

References on an evaluation of the effectiveness of urban renewal under Urban Renewal Authority

URA. 2018. Urban Renewal Authority. https://www.ura.org.hk/f/publication/2001/04e1108087_urban.pdf.

URAO. 2001. Cap. 563 URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY ORDINANCE. May 1. https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap563.

Urban Renewal Authority. 2018. Explore Our Projects. https://www.ura.org.hk/en/project/redevelopment.

Yin, Chengzhi. 2018. "From Redevelopment to Gentrification in Hong Kong: A Case Study of Kwun Tong Town Center Project." 43 (3): 1-20.

Yung, Esther H.K., Sheila Conejos, and Edwin H.W. Chan. 2016. "Public open spaces planning for the elderly: The case of dense urban renewal districts in Hong Kong." Land Use Policy 1-11.

Zheng, Helen Wei, Geoffrey Qiping Shen, Hao Wang, and Jingke Hong. 2015. "Simulating land use change in urban renewal areas: A case study in Hong Kong." Habitat International 23-34.