Hong Kong's Legislative Council on Thursday passed the Northern Metropolis Development Bill, removing barriers in planning and land procedures for the city’s strategic development area bordering Shenzhen, which covers a land area and planned population intake accounting for about one-third of Hong Kong’s total.

The bill specifies six policy areas to facilitate the development of the Northern Metropolis, including streamlining town planning procedures and expediting the payment of land acquisition compensation.

It also authorizes the chief executive, in consultation with the Executive Council, to enact subsidiary legislation regarding these six areas to establish implementation details.

ALSO READ: Northern Metropolis Development Bill sent to HK LegCo for debate

As Hong Kong’s first dedicated legislation for a pilot area, it was gazetted on July 3, entered its first reading on July 8, and was passed on Thursday after a two-day second reading. It also needs to be signed by the chief executive and promulgated in the official gazette to take effect.

Contact the writer at: stacuyshi@chinadailyhk.com