Hong Kong’s URA chief rebuffs criticism over quick closure of public play area

The head of Hong Kong’s Urban Renewal Authority has rejected criticism over the dismantling of a recreational facility less than a year after its opening, saying the free space was intended to be a short-term initiative and that some of its features would be donated to other public housing estates.

The space in Kwun Tong, including a children’s playground and a three-on-three basketball court, was opened last January but closed down just 11 months later, in November.

The authority’s decision drew criticism from the public, with many residents saying the facility had been a waste of resources, given it had only been in operation for less than a year.

Wai Chi-sing, the URA’s managing director, responded on Sunday that the closure was within the authority’s planned schedule, and 80 per cent of the recreational and sports facilities had been donated to two public housing estates in Yuen Long and Tuen Mun.

“I fully understand the public’s response. However, when the authority converted the last phase of the Kwun Tong Town Centre development project into a ‘free space’, we had stated that these facilities were only for temporary use,” Wai wrote in a blog post shared on the URA’s website, in response to the criticism.

“It was intended that the site be open to the public rather than be left empty during the preparation for the retendering process,” he explained.