Progress Report on Urban Renewal Authority's Projects in Central

For discussion C&W DC Paper No. 57/2020 Central and Western District Council (C&WDC) Progress Report on Urban Renewal Authority’s Projects in Central & Western District Purpose This paper aims to inform the Central and Western District Council on the progress of Urban Renewal Authority’s (“URA”) projects in Central and Western District. Peel Street/ Graham Street Development Scheme (H18) Progress of H18 Sites A, B and C • Foundation works is currently being carried out within Site A, and is expected to be completed by 2022. • Foundation, strengthening, and conservation related protective works are continuously being carried out at Site C. Strengthening works for the internal area of No. 120 Wellington Street is tentatively to be completed in May 2020. • In order to minimize the risk of infection of COVID-19, contractors have been required by the URA to carry out precautionary measures during construction works. In view of the impact of the virus on the community, the “Graham Market Campaign” to be organized by local organizations, stakeholders of the market and local artists, has been postponed and the event date is yet to be decided. District Councillors are cordially invited to join the campaign later. Queen’s Road West / In Ku Lane Development Scheme (C&W-006) • In accordance with the Project’s approved Development Scheme Plan, some of the existing Li Sing Street Playground facilities, In Ku Lane Refuse Collection Point (RCP) and public toilets will be re-planned and reprovisioned within the Project. A steering committee was formed in October 2019 between URA and relevant government departments, to follow up with the construction works which will be implemented in phases after project commencement. • The URA has obtained support from the District Council last year that in addition to the above-mentioned redevelopment construction works, the URA would also improve the other existing facilities within Li Sing Street Playground through revitalisation initiatives to achieve overall district renewal. After the past six months’ discussion with the relevant government departments, it is suggested that the improvement works can be implemented by phases as follows: - 1. To firstly redesign the basketball court and associated mechanical & electrical and ancillary facilities; 2. After the works of the basketball has been completed and handed over to LCSD for public usage, the URA will carry out enhancement and 1 improvement works by phases for the remaining facilities of Li Sing Street Playground between Sutherland Street and Li Sing Street. • URA will employ a design consultant team before mid this year for the initial design of the revitalization works. Upon obtaining consent from the relevant government departments on the initial design, URA will present to the CWDC and its sub- committee, District Works & Facilities Management Committee and collect their views, and to conduct local consultation through the help of the Central and Western District Homes Affairs Department. URA will commence detailed design and associated construction works after obtaining support from the CWDC and consent from the relevant governments departments on the proposed design. Progress of H19 Urban Renewal and its Vicinity In accordance with the four major visions recommended by the “Community-Making Report”, URA will continue to carry out the pilot community-making schemes: “Knowledge Common” • The Mural art on a portion of hoarding at Shing Wong Street has been completed with the joint effort of the local students, their parents, principal, teachers, the constituency district councillors and the artist. The mural displays a streetscape from the past and includes student’s imagery of the playful street activities. In addition, an exhibition called “Shing Wong – Local Character” introducing the history of Shing Wong Street and its vicinity is currently on display outside No. 90 Shing Wong Street, near the mural wall. Information and photos of the exhibition are provided by Hong Kong historian, Mr. Chen Po Hung. • The planned commending ceremony for the participating students in the mural art project at Shing Wong Street and docent tours of local history jointly organized with schools have been postponed due to outbreak of the virus. Dates of the events are yet to be decided. “Wellness Common” • The planned preparation works, hardware, and recruitment of farmer volunteers for the Community Farm Project at Wa In Fong West with stakeholders has been delayed due to outbreak of the virus. It is expected to be completed in April 2020 and commence planting works in April/May 2020. • On the other hand, URA has commissioned a design consultant and conservation architect to carry out preliminary works for the rehabilitation and revitalisation of 9 blocks of buildings under URA’s ownership at Staunton Street, Wa In Fong West and Shing Wong Street. During the process, the consultant team will update community stakeholders on the content of the works, including associated conservation design and rehabilitation issues. The works is tentatively to be commenced in Q4 2020. 2 • The Town Planning Board (TPB) has published in the Government Gazette on 9 August 2019 the amendments to the draft Sai Yung Pun and Sheung Wan Outline Zoning Plan (OZP), for including the area covered by the approved Urban Renewal Authority Staunton Street/Wing Lee Street Development Scheme Plan into the OZP; and have collected public comments on the amendments by the end of 2019. TPB will hold a meeting later to make decision based on the public comments collected. Central Market Revitalisation Initiatives • Concrete rehabilitation, mechanical and electrical installation works and renovation works for the market building are currently being carried out. After obtaining the excavation permit, excavation works are being carried out by the contractor by phases at Jubilee Street and Queen Victoria Road for electricity and drainage connection works for the building. • The project consultant is currently assessing the impact on work progress due to the outbreak of the virus, which has delayed the operation of raw materials factories in Mainland China and special ‘work from home’ arrangements by the Hong Kong government from Chinese New Year to the end of February 2020. URA and the contractor will endeavour to complete the 1st phase of works on time by Q3 2020, and to commence operation in 2021. It is hoped that government departments concerned will fully cooperate at the inspection stage. With reference to the guidelines recommended by the previous public engagement process, operation goals and mode of operation, tendering process for the operator will be tentatively conducted in Q1/2020. • The inspection process for the 1st phase of the project will commence in Q2 to Q3 2020. In order to ensure public safety and to minimise impact on the 24-hour passageway between Mid-Levels and Central during inspection stage, URA will continue to coordinate with government departments. Urban Renewal Initiatives of H6 CONET • H6 CONET was closed on some days from late January to early February 2020 in order to minimizing risk of spreading the virus. It has been re-opened from 3 February onwards. Public booking system of the multi-function room has been temporarily suspended and a review of the arrangement will be made in late March. • 5 events have been approved to be held between March and May including the 13th Central & Western District Festival’s photo competition prize-giving ceremony and exhibition, weekend music sharing sessions, exhibitions and stall games, etc. • In regards to the beautification works for the external walls surrounding H6 CONET, subsequent to the completion of the Hing Lung Street’s wall mural, mural works for another Hing Lung Street building wall is anticipated to commence in March. 3 • A building near the entrance of H6 CONET at Tit Hong Lane has joined the “Pilot Scheme on Local Building Partnership for Community Making”. An artist commissioned by the URA has been working closely together with the owners and tenants of the building on the proposed design for the last year. Agreement has been reached by the building’s owners’ committee regarding the design proposal. It can be implemented through tender of the building rehabilitation works, which is tentatively for tendering in Q2 this year and the works is tentatively to be completed by this year. Western Market • Lands Department has extended the land lease for Western Market to the URA for an additional two years to 2022. Urban Renewal Authority March 2020 4 .

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