Revitalisation of industrial buildings in Hong Kong

The aims of the scheme is to provide more floor spaces for suitable uses in order to meet Hong Kong’s changing social and economical needs.

[3] The project has three main measures: The government continues to provide art space at favorable industrial premises.

The vacancy rate of industrial buildings was 6.7% in December 2007 indicating that there was a waste of valuable land resources in the area.

In addition, in order to meet these current trends, the industrial buildings attract a lot of organic food laboratories and resellers.

The large-scale environment is ample for the business owners to obtain large machines to breed seafood and plant organic vegetables.

Sports activities can commonly be found inside revitalised industrial buildings in Hong Kong, examples include: golf, archery and martial arts.

Despite the fact that Hong Kong is often referred to as a ‘Cultural Desert’, the development of art is thriving in revitalised industrial buildings.

Painting sessions and free art-jamming are offered to people who wanted to escape their busy life and be immersed in tranquility.

For example, there are live houses in Kwun Tong industrial area that provides performance venue for local singers and bands.

Different varieties of businesses like holiday inns, arts studios and sport centres are developed making the department hard to control.

Some owners develop businesses via this administrative loophole, running cubicles, casinos[11][12] and mahjong clubs, creating many security problems for the building.

Firstly, due to the location[14] and environment of the premises, for instance, no windows or sunlight hinders the transformation of buildings for other business purposes such as inns and hotels.

[18] A survey conducted in 2010 by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) showed that over 60% of industrial buildings users had problems as a result of rental increases.

Their rental fee, including cost of installing air conditioners and other equipment, accounts, for the largest part of their expenses.

[citation needed] Limitations on current Land Use Policy In accordance with the Hong Kong Development Bureau town planning laws, cultural and creative industries (e.g. information technology, design and media production office, audio-visual recording studio, etc.)