The 20 pre-war veranda-type shophouses in Shanghai Street and Prince Edward Road West will be preserved for commercial or cultural use.

The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Urban Renewal Authority Shanghai Street-Argyle Street and Prince Edward Road West-Yuen Ngai Street Development Scheme Plans.

The Shanghai Street-Argyle Street development scheme area, covering 1,128 square metres, comprises 10 pre-war veranda-type shophouses at 600-606, 612-614 and 620-626 Shanghai Street and four post-war residential buildings at 608-610 and 616-618 Shanghai Street.

The area is zoned "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Shophouses for Commercial and/or Cultural Uses". The maximum building height of the area is restricted to three storeys or the height of the existing building, whichever is the greater.

The 10 shophouses will be preserved and put to adaptive re-use while the post-war buildings will be rehabilitated or redeveloped for commercial and cultural use.

The Prince Edward Road West-Yuen Ngai Street development scheme area, covering 1,440 square metres, comprises 10 pre-war veranda-type shophouses at 190-204 and 210-212 Prince Edward Road West.

The area is also zoned "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Shophouses for Commercial and/or Cultural Uses". The maximum building height of the area is restricted to four storeys or the height of the existing building, whichever is the greater.

The shophouses will also be preserved for commercial or cultural use.