The review process is structured into three stages, namely "Envisioning", "Public Engagement" and "Consensus Building".

During the three-stage process, prevailing web technology such as web-based discussion forum, blogs, etc. will be used to help solicit views from the public.

We will also employ other publicity and means of communication, (e.g. pamphlets, road shows, public forums, focus group discussion, questionnaire surveys, interviews and advertisements in the mass media) to engage the public at various stages, to ensure that those who do not have access to the internet could also participate in the discussion.

To allow a thorough deliberation of various urban renewal issues, the whole review process is expected to be completed in about two years.

Stage 1 – Envisioning

The Envisioning Stage will help us set the agenda for the review process and the range of topics and issues for discussion. We welcome the public to offer their suggestions and will invite relevant stakeholders to a series of focus group discussions so as to solicit their key concerns.

We will distill the findings of the discussions into a list of issues, problems and agenda items that the review should tackle.

As part of the Envisioning Stage, we will commission a consultant to research into urban renewal policies and practices in comparable Asian cities and arrange a seminar on overseas practice to enable overseas experts and professionals to share their experience with stakeholders in Hong Kong.

An Envisioning Report detailing and ranking the issues, problems and agenda items will be prepared. The Report and the findings of the studies on urban renewal policies will form the basis for consultation with the public during Stage 2 – Public Engagement.

Stage 2 – Public Engagement

The purpose of this stage is to help the community to better understand what urban renewal can accomplish and the issues of concerns so that we may collect their views on how the concerns could be addressed. We will present issues identified at the Envisioning Stage to the wider public for thorough discussions.

To facilitate and encourage greater involvement of the public, we will actively employ prevailing web technology and other publicity and means of communication at this stage. We plan to work closely with relevant District Councils to organize some of the public engagement activities.

By the end of this stage, a report on views collected with relevant analysis on the options available would be produced.

Stage 3 – Consensus Building

The objective of this stage is to achieve the consensus needed to come up with directions for change to the existing URS. We will review the findings of Stage 2, including the choices and preferences of the public on different issues and options, in this concluding stage of engagement.

We will hold a series of workshops with active participants identified in Stages 1 and 2. The general public is also welcome to join the discussions. We will identify the majority views on the relevant issues and prepare a final report based on the majority views identified and findings of the policy research study.

In the light of the findings of the policy research study, the engagement process and the final report, the Steering Committee will make recommendations to the Government on the areas of the existing URS that need to be revised and the directions of change.

Timeframe

The Envisioning Stage will last for about six months from July 2008 to January 2009.

The Public Engagement Stage will take about nine to eleven months from February 2009 to December 2009.

The Consensus Building Stage will take about three months from January 2010 to April 2010.