Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu speaks to the media ahead of an Executive Council meeting on Oct 31, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG – The leader of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said on Tuesday that the Northern Metropolis will be suitable for both the development of various industries and flourishing communities.

Addressing the media ahead the weekly Executive Council meeting, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the Action Agenda for the Northern Metropolis proposed building more than 500,000 new housing units, which would be located mainly in the development areas.

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“The Northern Metropolis initiative is a plan based on development needs in terms of overall layout and supporting facilities. We will make sure people's livelihood will be improved,” the chief executive said, adding that the government would welcome views to improve housing and overall environment.

The government would take an industry-oriented approach as the Northern Metropolis would provide high value-added jobs and residents living in the metropolis could seek intra-district employment, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said, adding that their commuting time would be reduced and the residents’ incomes would increase

The government would take an industry-oriented approach as the metropolis would provide high value-added jobs and residents living in the metropolis could seek intra-district employment, Lee said, adding that their commuting time would be reduced and the residents’ incomes would increase.

“I want to stress our goal is to make it (the Northern Metropolis) livable and supportive of industry development,” he said.

Asked about reserving lands in the Northern Metropolis for post-secondary institutions, he said the response from the education sector had been positive and the government aimed to develop Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education.

“We envisage an increase in the admission of students and the quality of education will be improved with more resources available,” Lee said, adding that local students could broaden their horizons through more exchanges with international students.

Policy Address

Speaking of his second Policy Address unveiled last Wednesday, Lee thanked people from all walks of society for giving valuable suggestions and the media for their detailed reports, adding that it had presented short-, medium- and long-term policies on a wide range of matters from micro and macro perspectives.

"On the policy level, we are linking Hong Kong's development with the country and the world," he said, adding that the government wanted to create a vibrant economy for a caring community.

He said residents were “seeing light at the end of the tunnel” with the establishment of a task force tackling the issues of subdivided homes.

Different departments and bureaus would continue to explain to the members of the public the measures in the Policy Address, Lee added. 

Asian Para Games

Lee also praised the extraordinary performance by the Hong Kong delegation at the Asian Para Games concluded in Hangzhou on Saturday, with eight gold medals, 15 silver and 24 bronze.

The government would hold a welcoming ceremony for the delegation and continue dedicating more resources to the development of para sports, he added.

‘Black code’

Regarding the possible cancellation of the health declaration for cross-boundary travel (“black code”) on Wednesday, the CE said the government had presented suggestions on border checkpoint management and welcomed any measures to streamline the process of cross-boundary travel.

READ MORE: Mainland cancels health declaration code for travelers

The government would make announcements when it had come up with enhancement measures, he added.