Policy Address
Waste Reduction and Resources Recovery
103. The passage of the legislation on municipal solid waste (MSW) charging by the LegCo in August this year is an important milestone in Hong Kong’s waste reduction work. We will embark on the preparatory work for the implementation of MSW charging, which includes strengthening support for community recycling of resources, increasing the number of collection points and enhancing service efficiency of the community recycling network. We will also make good use of smart technologies. The Government has rolled out central collection services for food waste and waste plastics on a pilot basis, and our efforts have begun to bear fruit. We will soon expand the two pilot schemes to extend their territorial coverage and service targets. To complement the upstream collection of recyclables, we will further promote the development of downstream waste-to-energy and waste-to-resources infrastructure to gradually reduce our reliance on landfills. For enhanced synergy, I have asked the Environmental Protection Department to take over the management of refuse collection points and household refuse collection services from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, so as to bring the collection, recycling, delivery and treatment of waste under the same umbrella.
Urban Renewal
104. Our current urban renewal strategy places emphasis on both redevelopment and rehabilitation. Apart from acquisition, demolition and redevelopment of aged buildings by the URA or developers, the current-term Government has allocated over $19 billion in total to subsidise owners of aged buildings to maintain and repair their properties. However, with the rapid ageing of buildings, the number of private buildings aged 50 years or above has surged from 3 900 to 8 600 over the past decade. Coupled with dilapidation of more than 5 000 “three-nil buildings” across the territory, we must adopt more effective policy measures to expedite the pace of redevelopment and renewal.
105. We will adopt a multi-pronged approach. First, based on the recently completed Yau Mong District Study, the URA will step up urban renewal with an innovative and district-based approach for Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok, including piloting planning tools such as transfer of plot ratio and street consolidation in suitable redevelopment projects. Such tools will also be applicable to privately-led redevelopment projects and other districts where appropriate. Second, I will invite the URA to commence similar district planning studies on the old districts of Tsuen Wan and Sham Shui Po with a view to formulating renewal plans for these two districts. Third, we will explore ways to lower the compulsory sale thresholds under the Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance to expedite redevelopment of aged buildings. During the process, the DEVB will give due consideration to factors such as minority owners’ interests and building conditions, and gauge the views of stakeholders.
