The Urban Renewal Authority has proposed excluding Wing Lee Street from its Staunton Street-Wing Lee Street redevelopment project to address public calls to preserve its special characteristics.

Speaking at a press conference today, the authority's chairman Barry Cheung said the body suggests making the street a 'preservation zone' where the buildings can be kept in their present form. The remaining two sites of the project will be made comprehensive development areas.

Noting the authority has acquired flats from numerous legal property interests owners in Wing Lee Street, he said it will continue to assist in the street's conservation and will revitalise the nearby market in accordance with the original plan. It will also inject resources to restore the acquired buildings and flats.

Although the authority will no longer adopt an aggressive and active attitude in acquiring the remaining property interests in the street, it will consider owners' wishes and requests on an individual basis until completion of the necessary work regarding the removal of Wing Lee Street from the redevelopment project.

"The authority will, at the request of the Development Bureau, offer help to the remaining property interests owners to repair and restore their flats and buildings," Mr Cheung added.

Alternative method

Welcoming the authority's proposal, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam said preserving Wing Lee Street is not a new decision, adding the Government expressed its desire to preserve the road when the authority announced the revised plan for the project in November 2008.

Noting the plan proposed in 2008 can also conserve the terrace characteristics of the street, she said the new proposal offers an alternative option. Depending on their condition, the buildings at 1 to 12 Wing Lee Street will be preserved in their original state.

"What the authority chairman has announced today, which has my strong support, is not a reversal of what we have been doing. It is another way of doing what we have been saying that we would do about Wing Lee Street, which is a complete preservation in order to conserve the terrace-type of neighbourhood in Hong Kong."

The proposal, together with the revised plan announced in 2008, will be tabled to the Town Planning Board for discussion on March 19.