An Urban Renewal Authority board member says a government policy that favours developers is to blame for the authority's slow progress in redeveloping To Kwa Wan and other run-down districts in the territory. Board member and lawmaker James To Kun-sun has urged that policy be changed to allow the authority more flexibility to initiate redevelopment projects when needed.
Calls for speedier redevelopment rose following the collapse of a 55-year-old block in To Kwa Wan last Friday that killed four people. The cause of the collapse has not yet been established but renovation work and poor maintenance have been cited as possible causes.
To Kwa Wan, in the southeast of the Kowloon peninsula, is dotted with factory buildings and old residential blocks, many of which are more than 40 years old.
The authority has announced at least four redevelopment projects in the area, though some are small-scale. For example, the Baker Court project involves demolition of two buildings only, covering 277 square metres. Another, the Pak Tai Street and Mok Cheong Street project, covers 776 square metres, involving five buildings.
To said: 'The authority does not want to be slow. But we need prior government approval before we can go ahead with our redevelopment proposals.
'But the government's philosophy is that if some private developers have expressed interest in redeveloping the area, it will let the private developers try first,' he said. 'Unless there is a change in the government's mindset, there is little the authority can do.'