Hong Kong’s attractiveness to global talents, and its regional connectivity, resilience and future-positioning have won the city a spot among the world’s top 10 “Leading Future Cities”, according to a new global ranking.

Experts said the development of the planned Northern Metropolis, a mega-township project that will house one-third of the territory’s population, is crucial for the city to consolidate these strategic advantages, urging smoother cross-border flows and a better living environment for arriving professionals.

Published on Tuesday by the City University of Hong Kong, the Future City Index 2025 ranks Beijing, Boston, Hong Kong, London, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai and Singapore as the world’s top 10 “Leading Future Cities”, out of 100 candidates.

Notably, Hong Kong is one of only five cities — joining Beijing, London, New York, and Paris — to secure top-10 positions across four key indicators: "Talent Hub," "Connection Hub," "Resilience," and "Future-positioning."

Lau Chi-pang, a local legislator and history scholar, agreed with the ranking that the SAR’s strong competitiveness to a large extent hinges on professionals and education, the city’s robust professional services, low tax rates, and the unique “one country, two systems” policy.

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A report issued alongside the index said the number of the city’s leading researchers, particularly in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, financial technology, and semiconductors, is 3.7 times that of a decade ago, which reflects Hong Kong's capability to become an international hub for high-caliber talent, connecting global capital and research resources, and serving as a vital bridge between the Chinese mainland and the international innovation and technology ecosystem.

The ranking “offers global insights and a visionary outlook for Hong Kong’s growth. It plays a crucial role in enhancing the city's competitiveness and reinforcing its strategic status as a vital link between the Chinese mainland and the international innovation and start-up ecosystems,” said Chris Sun Yuk-han, Hong Kong secretary for labor and welfare, at the index’s launching ceremony.

To fully harness this potential, experts pointed to the strategic importance of the Northern Metropolis. Lawmaker and engineering professor William Wong Kam-fai said the Northern Metropolis serves as a bridge linking Hong Kong with the mainland, especially the rest of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and is essential for the special administrative region’s integration with the motherland.

Lawmaker Duncan Chiu said access to the Greater Bay Area and the vast mainland markets is a key consideration for enterprises coming to Hong Kong, so that pilot programs for promoting cross-border flows should be rolled out in the Northern Metropolis as soon as possible to further enhance Hong Kong's attractiveness.

Chiu also talked about the supporting facilities for professionals living in Hong Kong. For example, the Northern Metropolis should be able to provide larger living areas and preferential policies for talent’s housing issue, he said.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com