Crunch time in old Kwun Tong center

Old buildings near Yue Man Square in Kwun Tong have started to be demolished to make way for the biggest redevelopment project by the Urban Renewal Authority.

All residents have already moved out except for those who are living in illegal structures, according to URA managing director Wai Chi-sing.

In a blog post, Wai said that the URA has already started demolishing buildings in the development area, but added that this will be done while taking into consideration the impact it poses to residents nearby as well as road users.

"After considering the opinions of the local community, we have decided to demolish one building within a certain period of time to avoid causing disturbances for nearby residents," Wai said.

"We have also put in place soundproof measures as well as measures that will protect pedestrians and road users, and clear debris coming from the demolition work."

Wai also wrote that all Yue Man Square residents had moved out early this month.

"The ownership of the flats in Yue Man Square was returned to the government last August after a land resumption application was approved by the government and gazetted last May," Wai said.

"Until early this month, all residents living in residential units in Yue Man Square have been relocated, and the properties have been successfully recovered."

Ownership of the whole development zone has been returned to the government, and only a small number of occupants living in illegal structures have not yet moved out, according to Wai.

"We will follow established procedures and recover those structures through legal means, while also providing occupiers with assistance in terms of relocation," Wai said.

He added that since the acquisition exercise started in 2009, the URA has used the market price, combined with extra allowances, for residents to purchase their new homes.

"We also provided ex-gratia allowances to around 250 eligible tenants living in the development area or provided them with flats to relocate to," he said.

Wai also gave an update on the public transport interchange situated in the main construction site of the redevelopment.

"The interchange is expected to commence service in the first quarter of next year, and the minibus terminus will be moved into the interchange by then," Wai said.

"This will provide a more comfortable and safe environment for people to queue for public transport," he added.

URA has decided to turn Yue Man Square into the city center of Kwun Tong with a new landmark comprised of residential, hospitality, commercial, leisure and transport facilities.