The Urban Renewal Authority will spend $100 million to launch the Mallory Street revitalisation project, which will help foster Hong Kong's development of cultural and creative industries. It hopes to complete the project by 2007.

It requires the acquisition of two rows of 10 early 20th Century shop-houses in Mallory and Burrows Streets, Wan Chai. Upon completion of the planning and acquisition procedures, the authority will refurbish some of the buildings and turn them into a haven for operators of cultural and creative industries.

Facade facelift: The Mallory Street revitalisation project will transform two rows of 10 shop-houses into an architectural setting with distinctive character and an open space.

District rejuvenation

Authority Executive Director Andrew Lam said the project was inspired by the Policy Address in January which highlights the "the importance of rejuvenating old districts to create a cultural atmosphere, thereby attracting talents, fostering cultural and creative industries and developing local community economy".

He said the Government's goal is in line with the authority's concept of revitalisation by refurbishing old buildings of special character, where practicable, for cultural and creative businesses.

Mr Lam said as a trial project, Mallory Street is the first attempt at this worthwhile cause, adding it will help improve the living standard of the residents through compensation or rehousing, while the site provides a rare opportunity for attracting creative talent to operate in an architectural setting with distinctive character.

Retain, refurbish

Occupying an area of 8,400 square feet, the site has 10 four-storey shop-houses built in the 1920s. Some are in a very dilapidated condition without even basic sanitary facilities. The authority's plan is to retain and refurbish the six that are in better condition, to provide 20 or more partitioned units with a total floor area of 18,300 square feet. The remainder will be demolished to make way for a 3,400-square foot landscaped open space.

"This is an unprecedented endeavour to us and we are open to any theme and variety of cultural and creative industries as long as they are sustainable and will enable the project to become self-supporting in day-to-day operation," Mr Lam said.

A special committee comprising representatives of the authority's Wan Chai District advisory committee and the District Council will consult residents, professionals, academics and other interested parties and recommend the theme and industry mix for the area.

Plan display

Within the next two months, a plan of the development scheme delineating its boundary and a general description will be displayed at the authority's headquarters at 10/F Low Block Grand Millennium Plaza, 181 Queen's Road Central, Sheung Wan, and its Neighbourhood Centre in Wan Chai at G/F Yan Yee Court, 28 Wan Chai Road, and the Wan Chai District Office at G/F, 2 O'Brien Road.

Upon consent by the Town Planning Board and approval by the Chief Executive in Council, acquisition of four property interests and rehousing or compensation for about 37 households will follow. Of the $118 million development cost, about $62 million will be for acquisition and rehousing.