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■新填地街重建項目的單位樓齡約50年，不少地方荒廢，日久失修。資料圖片
市區重建局10日宣布斥資17.6億元啟動旺角新填地街的重建項目，受影響的一列舊樓平均逾50年樓齡。由於重建範圍內「劏房」眾多，估計預留10.23億元收購及安置的成本有機會「超支」。本港舊樓林立，加快舊區重建既可改善居民生活環境，亦同時提升城市形象和公眾安全。然而，新填地街項目涉及大批「劏房戶」的賠償及安置問題，勢將大幅增加收購成本，隨時令市建局出現嚴重虧蝕。當局應研究放寬重建項目的地積比率，增加可發展的樓面面積，此舉不但可抵銷高企的收購成本，且有利舊區重建的可持續性。
為抵銷高企的重建成本，當局應在重建項目的地積比率上作出更大的彈性，增加可發展的樓面面積，既可善用土地資源，也可增加市建局的賣地收入，市建局亦可盡量將樓價降低，一舉三得。雖然此舉可能對周邊的居民造成一定影響，但社會各界應以理性務實的態度看待市區重建的地積比率，達致舊區改造與環保的合理平衡。同時，當局也應為市建局提供更多支援，如將部分公屋單位撥作安置受影響居民之用，減輕收購成本壓力，也讓居民有安身之所。
Old district redevelopment benefits the public but overspending should be avoide
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announced on 10 February that it would spend HK$1,760 million to implement a redevelopment project at Reclamation Street in Mong Kok. The project involves a row of old buildings over 50 years of age in average. As there are a lot of sub-divided units in the project area, it is estimated that the actual cost of acquisition and rehousing may be well over the estimated HK$1,023 million. In Hong Kong many old buildings still stand here and there, speeding up the process of urban renewal can bring about not only an improvement of the living environment for local residents but also an upgrading of the city image and public safety. However, the Reclamation Street project covers an area with a large number of dwellers living in sub-divided units. Compensating and resettling these dwellers will unavoidably raise the cost of acquisition considerably and the URA may stand the chance of recording a big loss. The authorities should study the possibility of increasing the plot ratio to allow more developable floor area for the project. This will offset the high cost of acquisition and contribute to the sustainability of old district renewal as well.
To offset the high cost of redevelopment, the authorities should be more flexible in setting plot ratios for redevelopment projects and increase developable floor areas. Not only will this put land resources to better use but will also give the URA greater land revenue, and as a result, the URA can lower property prices as much as possible. The benefits are threefold. The move may make quite an impact to the residents in the neighbourhood, but the wider society should treat the special plot ratio allowed for urban renewal projects with a rational and pragmatic attitude so that a reasonable balance can be achieved between renewals of old districts and environmental protection. At the same time, the authorities should give more support to the URA by means such as allocating certain public housing units for resettlement of affected residents to relieve the pressure of high acquisition cost and to provide shelter to the residents. ■Translation by 東明 tungming23@gmail.com
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