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RICS Offers International Views on Urban Renewal Strategy, New Ideas to be Submitted for Development Bureau's Consideration

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
2009-07-28 11:04 1386

HONG KONG, July 27 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- In a year-long consultation on Urban Renewal Strategy (URS) Review, the Development Bureau of HKSAR Government has launched an overhaul review process since July 2008 in an attempt to collect views and encourage inputs from the industry and the public. RICS Task Force has been formed and working devotedly to amassing members' views and sharing overseas experiences on URS issues. In order to further encourage the participation from RICS members as well as other professionals in the industry in the Review, RICS has today organized a Conference with renowned overseas speakers in the UR field from UK and US as well as experts and practitioners from Hong Kong to share industry views on URS through insightful presentations and interactive panel discussion.

The Organizing Committee of the URS Conference is pleased to have Mrs. Carrie Lam, JP, Secretary for Development of the HKSAR Government as the Keynote Opening Address Speaker. Ms. Ada Wong Ying Kay, JP, Member of Steering Committee on URS Review set up by HKSAR Government, together with Hon Prof Patrick Lau Shau-shing, SBS, JP, member of Legislative Council, Dr. Law Chi-kwong, member of the Research Team on URS Review of The University of Hong Kong and Mr. Nicholas Brooke, Past RICS Global President have formed a forum for sharing views and experiences on URS with conference participants from the industry, related government departments and professional bodies. The Conference has attracted more than 150 participants from the architectural, engineering, planning, surveying and real estate fields.

Mr. David Tse, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the URS Conference said, "Our objective of organizing such an industry-based and interactive Conference on URS is to draw attention from our members as well as other professions in the industry and to encourage their participation by contributing their professional views and experience on the urban redevelopment and revitalization issues. We aim at consolidating the views from the conference participants, and panel members, together with the overseas experiences from the three overseas speakers into a full report which will be submitted to the Development Bureau for consideration during the current stage of public engagement of the Review ending by December of this year."

Mr. Albert So, Chairman of RICS (Hong Kong) added, "RICS, as an international professional body, seeks to provide professional property view and advice on governmental policy by bringing in overseas experience and case-study sharing in order to help build a better and improved community in Hong Kong. Taking this conference as an example, we hope to give our views on the URS matter to the government by showcasing international insights and sharing among our members".

Background of "Urban Renewal Strategy Review"

The HKSAR Government has set up the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) in 2001 with a mission to create quality and vibrant living in Hong Kong - a better home in a world-class city. The Government has also published an Urban Renewal Strategy (URS) to provide broad policy guidance to the operation and works of URA.

The URS Review is structured into three stages, namely "Envisioning", "Public Engagement" and "Consensus Building". To allow a thorough deliberation of various urban renewal issues, the whole review process is expected to be completed in about two years. The Envisioning Stage has last for about six months from July 2008 to January 2009 and is aimed to set the agenda for the review process and the range of topics and issues for discussion.

The Public Engagement Stage will take about nine to eleven months from February 2009 to December 2009. The purpose of this stage is to help the community to better understand what urban renewal can accomplish and the issues of concerns so that the Government may collect views on how the concerns could be addressed.

The Consensus Building Stage will take about three months from January 2010 to April 2010. The objective of this stage is to achieve the consensus needed to come up with directions for change to the existing URS.

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 worlds' 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 11,000 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

Designated contacts for Hong Kong media:

RICS Asia Public Relations Representative

Ms Belinda Chan / Ms Kate Kwan

Tel: +852-2372-0090

Fax: +852-2372-0490

Mobile: +852-9379-3045 / +852-9077-1337

Email: belinda@creativegp.com / kate@creativegp.com

Source: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
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