Sharing session: Secretary for Development Carrie Lam meets representatives of seven District Councils at a forum on urban regeneration.

Consensus is emerging in the community that urban regeneration should be district-based, involve public engagement and maintain a balance between new and old, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam says.

Ms Lam was addressing representatives of the Central & Western, Wan Chai, Tsuen Wan, Sham Shui Po, Yau Tsim Mong, Kowloon City and Kwun Tong District Councils today at a forum on urban regeneration.

She said through the discussions in the "envisioning" and "public engagement" stages of the two-year Urban Renewal Strategy Review, which started July 2008, she believed there were three emerging consensus on the future direction of urban regeneration in the community.

Firstly, urban regeneration should be district-based, taking into account the development and planning of the whole district. In addition, a bottom-up approach should be adopted to listen to the views and opinions of the community through public engagement.

Finally, the new and the old should be blended by striking a suitable balance among redevelopment, rehabilitation and preservation.

The seven district councils have appointed consultants to conduct a district aspirations study to identify each district's aspirations for urban renewal.

Final reports will be completed in the first quarter and submitted to the Steering Committee on the Review of the Urban Renewal Strategy for reference.

The committee will later announce the preliminary suggestions on the future urban regeneration strategy.