Request for Technical Assessments of District Study for Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok

CY Chan made this Freedom of Information request to Urban Renewal Authority

Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding.

The request was refused by Urban Renewal Authority.

Dear Urban Renewal Authority,

I would like to request the technical assessments that had been carried out with regard to the District Study for Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok.

Although the study responded to the current environmental issues, like air and noise pollution, yet hygienic issue and corresponding sewage system was not highlighted. It becomes a huge concern whether the existing sewage system is sufficient to support future developments, especially the increment of plot ratios.

In this regard, I would like to request the following documents regarding the affected areas:
1. existing sewage flow
2. sewage impact assessment report
3. study of underground sewage upgrading works

Yours faithfully,

CY Chan

URA Corporate Communications Division, Urban Renewal Authority

Our Ref: CCD/ERD/COAI/WEB/COAI/04-23/159

Dear CY Chan,

We acknowledge receipt of your email dated 20 April 2023 to the Urban
Renewal Authority (URA).

To obtain information in accordance with the URA’s Code of Access to
Information, please complete the Request for Information Application Form
which can be downloaded from the website
at [1]https://www.ura.org.hk/en/information-di...
submit it to the URA. We shall then process the application.

Regards,
External Relations Department
Urban Renewal Authority
 
 

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Dear URA Corporate Communications Division,

The said form had been faxed to your office on 25 April 2023. Please check and contact me on this platform.

Yours sincerely,
CY Chan

URA Corporate Communications Division, Urban Renewal Authority

Our Ref: CCD/ERD/COAI/WEB/YMDS/04-23/255

Dear Ms Chan,

We acknowledge receipt of your enquiry dated 25 April 2023 regarding your
application for access to information made pursuant to the Code of Access
of Information (COAI) of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), the URA
receieved it on 26 April.

Please be advised that your request is being processed in accordance with
the COAI of the URA, we will reply to you in due course.

Regards,
Information Disclosure Officer
Urban Renewal Authority
 

 

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Dear Urban Renewal Authority,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Urban Renewal Authority's handling of my FOI request 'Request for Technical Assessments of District Study for Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok'.

By law, the authority should normally have responded promptly and by May 05, 2023. However, as of 16 May 2023, no response is received from your side.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/request...

Yours faithfully,
CY Chan

URA Corporate Communications Division, Urban Renewal Authority

Our Ref: CCD/ERD/COAI/WEB/YMDS/04-23/255

Dear CY Chan,

Thank you for your email dated 25 April 2023, requesting for
information/document in relation to the technical assessment reports for
sewage works of the “Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok District Study” (the “Study”)
from the URA. The URA has processed your request in accordance with the
provisions outlined in the URA’s Code of Access of Information (COAI). As
per section 3 of the COAI, which details the information which may be
refused, the information you requested is considered unsuitable for
disclosure for the following reason:

Information relating to the management and operations of the Authority
According to the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance, the URA is required to
prepare a draft business plan every year outlining the projects to be
implemented in the next five years, as well as an annual business plan,
which is submitted to the Financial Secretary for approval. Due to
operational considerations and the necessity for confidentiality, the URA
has refrained from publicly disclosing details regarding the redevelopment
plans before they are gazetted.

The Study includes a Master Urban Renewal Concept Plan (MRCP), which
provides detailed recommendations for the URA’s upcoming redevelopment
projects. The technical assessments which support the formulation of the
MRCP contain planning data, including specific location, boundary,
development parameters, and implementation timeframe for redevelopment
projects which would be commenced.  In this connection, disclosure of the
information as requested would harm or undermine the URA’s efficient and
proper operation, affect its statutory functions, or have an adverse
effect on its activities, and hence deemed unsuitable for disclosure,
according to section 3(e) of the Code. 

In fact, the URA has made every effort to balance the need for public
access to the Study’s data with the principles of protecting sensitive
information and not compromising the URA’s operations. On 28 September
2021, the URA submitted and presented a summary of the results and
recommendations of the Study to the Development Panel of the Legislative
Council without disclosing any sensitive information. In addition, the URA
has consulted with various professional groups on the Study’s
recommendations. The URA has also attended meetings of the Yau Tsim Mong
District Council to explain the Study’s contents and listen to the views
of council members. The URA published an Information Booklet summarizing
the findings and recommendations of the Study in February 2022, covering
key planning issues, the proposed parameters and framework for the MRCP,
which includes five opportunity areas for urban renewal with distinct
planning themes and development nodes, new planning mechanisms to
accelerate the pace of urban renewal. These findings and recommendations
are supported by relevant figures of the study area, which can also be
found in the Booklet, such as social-economic profile, environment and
traffic, urban decay and density review. The Information Booklet can be
downloaded at the link below.
([1]https://www.ura.org.hk/f/page/44/13214/I...)

As always, the URA will follow established consultation procedures to
collect public opinions when projects are commenced. The URA will provide
the public with further details on the relevant projects at that time.

Regards,
Information Disclosure Officer
Urban Renewal Authority
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Dear URA Corporate Communications Division,

Since the Yau Ma Tei Draft Outline Zoning Plan No. S/K2/25 had been gazetted on 30 June 2023, May I know if the requested information could be provided please?

Yours sincerely,
CY Chan

URA Corporate Communications Division, Urban Renewal Authority

Our Ref: CCD/ERD/REQ/WEB/YMDS/07-23/138

Dear CY Chan,

We acknowledge receipt of your email dated 11 July 2023 to the Urban
Renewal Authority (URA). We are looking into the subject matter and will
reply to you in due course.

In the meantime, should you have any other enquiry, please contact the
duty officer of the External Relations Department at URA at hotline 2588
2333 or email to [Urban Renewal Authority request email].

 

Regards,
External Relations Department
Urban Renewal Authority

 
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URA Corporate Communications Division, Urban Renewal Authority

Our Ref: CCD/ERD/REQ/WEB/YMDS/07-23/138

Dear CY Chan,

Thank you for your email to the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) dated 11
July 2023, making further request for information/document in relation to
the technical assessment reports for sewage works of the “Yau Ma Tei and
Mong Kok District Study” (the “Study”) from the URA.

The URA has processed again your request in accordance with the provisions
outlined in the URA’s Code of Access of Information (COAI). As per section
3 of the COAI, which details the information which may be refused, the
information you requested is considered unsuitable for disclosure for the
following reason:

Information relating to the management and operations of the Authority
The Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) is a statutory plan prepared by the Town
Planning Board under the Town Planning Ordinance which shows the land use
zones, development restrictions and major road systems of individual
planning scheme areas. It is different from the Master Urban Renewal
Concept Plan (MRCP) formulated by the URA through the Yau Mong District
Study, which provides detailed recommendations of the Study, such as the
location, proposed plot ratios, provision of new flats and projects’
timetable, for the URA’s upcoming redevelopment projects. As we have
explained in the previous reply issued on 16 May 2023, the technical
assessment reports in relation to the MRCP contain sensitive planning data
regarding these concerned redevelopment projects, disclosing information
about redevelopment projects prematurely could significantly compromise
the accuracy of the freezing survey conducted during the course of the
project. In addition, disclosing such information could attract imposters
who may take up residence in the project area, potentially abusing the
compensation and rehousing scheme. In this connection, the URA is
refrained from publicly disclosing details regarding the redevelopment
plans before the redevelopment plan is gazetted, due to operational
considerations and the necessity for confidentiality.  

According to section 3(e) of the Code, if disclosure of this information
would harm or undermine the URA’s efficient and proper operation, affect
its statutory functions, or have an adverse effect on its activities, it
is deemed unsuitable for disclosure.

As always, the URA will follow established consultation procedures to
collect public opinions when projects are commenced. The URA will provide
the public with further details on the relevant projects at that time.
 
 
Regards,
Information Disclosure Officer
Urban Renewal Authority
 
 
 
 

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