URA To Build 300 Private Flats In Mong Kok

The Urban Renewal Authority has launched a 10-year re-development project in Mong Kok to build 300 small and medium-sized private flats on Thistle Street and Shantung Street.

Lawrence Mak, the authority’s general manager for planning and design, said on Friday that they want to restructure the neighbourhood, where the oldest buildings date back to 1958.

"There are... issues about the existing buildings. Of course some are of relatively poor building conditions," Mak said.

The authority said an estimated 170 property owners and 280 households – some living in subdivided flats – would be compensated or rehoused if the plan gets approval from the Chief Executive and the Executive Council.

The flats are expected to be about 450 square feet in size, while two areas of more than 2,000 square metres will be reserved for community and commercial use.

Mak said the project will also make the neighbourhood more liveable by revamping a garden on Thistle Street.

"The Thistle Street rest garden is surrounded by a lot of buildings, so by opening up the garden towards the corner of Shantung Street and Thistle Street, we think we could greatly improve the environment," he said.

A 200-square-metre plaza will also be built to connect the garden and shops nearby.