RICS Recommends Setup of Independent Semi-Government Body to Coordinate Related Procedures and to Demonstrate Commitment of the Government Towards Creative Industry’s Development
HONG KONG, June 23 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Mr. Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the HKSAR Government revealed plans to improve competitiveness of six industries in which Hong Kong already has an edge. Among them, underutilized industry buildings are to be retrofitted for cultural and creative industries.
Echoing the CE’s proposed plan, RICS (The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Hong Kong has previously put forward a research report on “Industrial Buildings - Strategic Review of Issues Associated with Conversion for Adaptive Re-use” in June 2008, which highlights the problem of the under-utilization of industrial buildings in Hong Kong and put forward practical and feasible recommendations to overcome the hurdles of conversion of industrial buildings for adaptive re-use of industrial buildings and revitalization of industrial areas.
RICS welcomes the change of the government’s initiatives to revitalize existing industrial buildings instead of demolishing them after one year of assessment. It also urges the government to sit together with industry players to formulate measures that can help foster development of creative industry in Hong Kong. Mr. Albert So, Chairman of RICS (Hong Kong), and also key contributor to the 2008 research, commented, “The current approach taken by the government is quite inflexible, particularly the standard set of procedures to handle applications by certain government’s departments. All applications to apply for changing the usage of industrial buildings would need to go through at least three departments (Planning Department, Building Department and Lands Department), which usually require to take complicated and sometimes repetitive procedures. We believe by setting up a semi-governmental committee to help plan and reform current procedures such as devising Joint Practice Note for related departments to follow. We believe such measures can help to speed up application process while at the same time show commitment of the Government in nurturing creative industries and solving problems related to under-utilization of industrial buildings.”
Mr. So continued, “We propose to have a pilot program carried out at selected districts before adaptation of the plan across the city in order to tackle with practical problems like fire and safety regulation, multiple ownership, car park setting’s guidelines, etc. Moreover, the government should consider to waive fees when applying for change of land use based on functional usage for example fee-waive for cultural and creative purpose as a means to encourage development of the industry.”
RICS HK recommends following overseas’ references:
Overseas (e.g. in London, New York, Singapore, Beijing and Shanghai) redundant industrial and warehouse buildings have been successfully converted into residential, office, retail, entertainment, hospitality and seniors accommodation uses. Indeed in some cities they have become not simply conversions but prized and expensive lifestyle accommodations. Given the density and limited area of built accommodation per head in Hong Kong, there is a need for additional space, particularly less expensive space, for living, working and playing and these could well be housed in former industrial or godown buildings.
Background information:
There is approximately 17.57 million sq.m. of flatted factory space in Hong Kong, much of it over 20 years old and another 7 million sq.m. of private storage, private specialized factories and private industrial space. Given that most of manufacturing activity has now moved into Mainland, some 1.07 million sq.m. of such accommodation was standing vacant at the end of 2007 with additional space being under-utilized or used for purposes which are outside the conditions of their land leases or planning approval. Whilst vacancy rate in December 2007 was approximately 6.2%, rents and prices increased strongly in the fourth quarter with take-up of 141,000 sq.m. for the year as a whole.
While most of the HK population is currently experiencing significantly increased rental levels and property prices, successful conversion of the redundant industrial space is an immediate solution to the problem if converted uses were permitted or could be made financially viable under the current regulatory system. Such adaptive re-use is common overseas, and in Hong Kong, minor policy changes and a more flexible attitude to urban design and planning regulations could facilitate equally creative use of the stock of structurally sound but redundant industrial and godown buildings.
To download full report on “Industrial Buildings - Strategic Review of Issues Associated with Conversion for Adaptive Re-use”, please visit: http://www.ricsasia.org/webpage.php?id=93®ionID=10
About RICS & RICS Asia
RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is an independent professional body originally established in the UK by Royal Charter. Since 1868, RICS has been committed to setting and upholding the highest standards of excellence and integrity - providing impartial, authoritative advice on key issues affecting businesses and society.
RICS is the world’s leading qualification when it comes to professional standards in land, property and construction. With over 140,000 members globally, RICS represents, regulates and promotes the work of property professionals throughout 146 countries.
The RICS Asia supports a network of over 9,000 individual professionals across the Asia region with an objective to help develop the property and construction markets in these countries, by introducing professional standards, best practice and international experience. It promotes RICS and its members as the natural advisors on all property matters. It also ensures that services and career development opportunities are provided to members.
The RICS Asia region covers national associations and local groups locating in Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, The People’s Republic of China and the SAR Hong Kong. It also has members working across the region such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos PDR, Macao, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, The Maldives, The Philippines, Timor East and Vietnam. For further details, please visit our new website: http://www.ricsasia.org
Media enquiry, please contact:
RICS Asia Pacific Public Relations Representative
Ms Katherine Chow / Ms Kate Kwan
Tel: +852-2372-0090
Fax: +852-2372-0490
Mobile: +852-9256-3223 / +852-9077-1337
Email: kat@creativegp.com / kate@creativegp.com