Land resumption for urban renewal project in Kowloon City gazetted

     The Lands Department today (May 6) announced the resumption of land at Kai Tak Road/Sa Po Road in Kowloon City for the implementation of an urban renewal project.

     The project was included in the Urban Renewal Authority’s Business Plan for 2018-19. The project site, with an area of about 6 106 square metres, will be redeveloped for residential use with retail/commercial facilities, as well as underground ancillary parking and loading/unloading facilities. A split-level sunken plaza, an underground public vehicle park, and Government, Institution or Community facilities will also be provided within the site, together with road improvement works. Its implementation will help improve the overall living environment of the area.

     A total of 459 private property interests at the project site will be resumed under the Lands Resumption Ordinance. The affected interests will revert to the Government on the expiration of three months from the date on which the resumption notices are affixed on-site. Details of the private land affected were published by notice in the Gazette today.

     Apart from statutory compensation, eligible owners of domestic properties will also be offered an ex-gratia home purchase allowance or a supplementary allowance as appropriate. Eligible domestic tenants will be offered rehousing to public rental housing units provided by the Hong Kong Housing Authority or the Hong Kong Housing Society, or an ex-gratia allowance.

     Eligible commercial property occupiers, including owners and tenants, may opt for an ex-gratia allowance in lieu of the right to claim statutory compensation for business and related losses.

     If statutory claims made by the affected owners and tenants of both domestic and commercial properties under the Lands Resumption Ordinance cannot be settled by agreement, the owners and tenants may apply to the Lands Tribunal for adjudication. Professional fees reasonably incurred by the claimants in making such claims may be reimbursed by the Government.