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■市建局斥資近12億元重建九龍城區16幢逾60年樓齡舊樓，部分樓宇住宅距離架空天橋不足10米，住戶半夜常被行車聲吵醒。 資料圖片
市區重建局上月宣布斥資近12億元重建九龍城區16幢逾60年樓齡舊樓，估計在2020年前完成，可提供住宅單位180個。市建局表示，不會因樓市高低左右項目推出時間表。市建局不因樓市起伏調整重建項目進度，有利推動舊樓改造的步伐。市建局還應協助舊樓業主了解、運用需求主導計劃，主動申請要求重建，令重建計劃惠及更多市民。
目前，香港約有4,000幢樓齡在50年或以上的樓宇。在未來10年，「高齡樓宇」的數目更會按年遞增500幢。這些舊樓因日久失修，環境惡劣，當中不少更屬危樓，對市民生命安全構成嚴重威脅。去年初馬頭圍道唐樓倒塌事件造成4死2傷，令舊樓居民餘悸猶存，加快舊樓重建備受社會關注。
市建局今年6月推出「需求主導」的重建模式，舊樓只需獲67%業主同意，業主可主動提出重建申請，改變過往由市建局主導的重建方式，但由於市建局宣傳不足，大多數舊樓業主都不清楚計劃內容，更遑論啟動重建計劃。政府及市建局應加強宣傳推廣，簡化批核程序，讓小業主掌握更大主動權，加快舊樓重建的步伐。
Redevelopment should not be affected by fluctuations of property market
Last month the Urban Renewal Authority(URA) announced that it will spend about HKD1.2 billion to redevelop 16 street numbers of buildings which are over 60 years old in Kowloon City. It is estimated that the project will be completed before 2020 and will provide 180 residential units. The URA has stressed that the time frame of the redevelopment project will not be affected by the fluctuations of the property market. This decision of the URA not to adjust the time frame of redevelopment projects in light of fluctuations of the property market will have a positive effort on pushing forward the rehabilitation of old buildings. In addition, the Authority should also help owners of old buildings understand; encourage them to make use of the demand-led redevelopment scheme and to voluntarily apply for redevelopment so that the scheme can benefit more Hong Kong citizens.
Currently, there are about 4,000 buildings that are at or over 50 years of age. In the coming 10 years, the number of "old buildings" will increase by 500 blocks a year. These buildings, with no repair and revamp over the years, are dilapidated and in very poor conditions. Many of them are classified as dangerous buildings which seriously endanger the lives and safety of the people. Early last year, the collapse of the Cantonese shophouses in Ma Tau Wai Road caused four deaths and two injuries. Dwellers of old buildings are still haunted by the incident, and speeding up old building redevelopment has thus become a public concern.
In June this year, the URA introduced the demand-led redevelopment scheme. Under the scheme, owners of an old building may voluntarily file a joint application for redevelopment with the consent of 67% of the owners. This marks a change from the former practice of URA-initiated redevelopment. However, due to poor publicity, most owners of old buildings do not have even a clear understanding of the scheme, not to mention an initiative to start a redevelopment project. The government and URA should step up their publicity efforts and simplify the application procedures. Individual unit owners should be allowed a greater power to initiate redevelopment projects, which helps speed-up of the renewal of old buildings. ■Translation by 東明
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