Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu suggested in his second Policy Address delivered in October that the Northern Metropolis will be “the new engine for Hong Kong’s future growth”, and will provide about 500,000 new housing units and create 500,000 new jobs.

And the Development Bureau has released the Northern Metropolis Action Agenda outlining the development blueprint and specific implementation plan. However, if Hong Kong, under the current institutional framework, continues to stick to its traditional planning and development approach, it is highly likely that only a small portion of the area will be developed by 2047. 

Such a pace of development is far from ideal, with time often being wasted on preparing paperwork and procedures, thereby missing out on opportunities arising in the constantly evolving technological era.

For the fruitful development of the Northern Metropolis, an area adjacent to Shenzhen, a profound vision for technological development is indispensable. To begin with, one project that could contribute to the development of the northern parts of the New Territories, which in turn can be leveraged to boost the overall development of Hong Kong, is a World Expo focusing on technology, culture, and lifestyle, to be jointly organized by Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

Even before 1997, then Legislative Council member Stephen Cheong Kam-chuen had advocated the idea of organizing world expos in Hong Kong. 

Hosting a World Expo brings many benefits. First and foremost, it sets a clear time schedule and deadline, ensuring progress and evading any unnecessary delays in development. 

Second, it facilitates reforms and development within the system. Take the Expo 2010 Shanghai China as an example. Shanghai, in subsequent years, has made significant progress in internationalization. 

If Hong Kong wants to further enhance the momentum and quality of its development, it must begin with reforming the system by introducing pilot projects. Organizing a Shenzhen-Hong Kong World Expo in the northern parts of Hong Kong would serve as an excellent opportunity.

So, what model would be the best fit for the proposed World Expo? One possibility is to let tech giants, in partnership with different enterprises, take the lead in facilitating the event. Alternatively, a new Shenzhen-Hong Kong World Expo company, established by the governments of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, would also serve the purpose. In fact, there are various existing models for holding world expos. The most important factor is to have a methodology in place to promote and implement the event. To green-light special methods for special situations would also be particularly helpful to expedite reforms and effective deployment of resources.

Notwithstanding the environmental issues to be addressed, such as preserving the ecology of wetlands and farmlands, a comprehensive plan and a well-thought-out framework by the government will settle these issues. 

Environmental issues can generally be resolved through proper planning. For example, by leveraging the resources and unique features of the wetland park, a “Green Expo” that combines environmental conservation, technology and lifestyle could be facilitated. 

 Tech giants like Huawei, Tencent and DJI can build a new model through collaboration. Major corporations from both cities can consider cross-regional collaboration. Above all, the driving force should always be technology, emphasizing innovation. Let’s say that the goal is to facilitate the proposed event after two terms of administration, so planning and preparation works for the World Expo 2035 should begin now.

 Why does Hong Kong need a new model for development of the Northern Metropolis? The current approach adopted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government to drive developments in the area is slow and somewhat fragmented. Certain aspects of development, such as logistics, trade, and environmental protection, could not reach the desirable scale because of the involvement of many small and medium-sized companies. On the other hand, for emerging industries like innovation and technology, it requires leading tech companies with competence and resources to take the lead so as to achieve results. That is an unalterable truth.

 There are already a number of leading technology companies in Shenzhen, but Hong Kong still lacks large-scale technology enterprises based in the city. Major corporations in Hong Kong have been primarily investing in finance and real estate, paying little attention to innovation in technology. Even if the HKSAR government could attract foreign companies to invest in the city, they may not be able to take root and grow without a new model. 

As current procedures are filled with bureaucracy, projects developed under such a system tend to be piecemeal and without synergy. Take the Hong Kong Science Park, which has been operating since 2001, for example — what significant achievements can it point to after two decades? Though Cyberport, which was completed in 2004, has brought up some innovation technology startups over the years, few of these companies have taken root and grown in Hong Kong. They have mostly moved to other areas for further development. This phenomenon is definitely undesirable.

Hong Kong needs to strengthen its own capabilities to create an ecosystem for innovation and technology development. If the Northern Metropolis centers its development on technology and innovation, it will make good use of the land and the opportunities it brings. 

It’s hard to consider that officials are really doing a proper job if they just continue to pursue international rankings and host skin-deep “international” events.  

Bureaucracy has slowed down Hong Kong’s socioeconomic development. Procedures and systems must be reformed, while innovative pilot projects should be introduced. The Shenzhen Special Economic Zone conceived by then-State leader Deng Xiaoping in 1979 has set a good benchmark. 

If the Northern Metropolis is to be developed with an emphasis on technology and culture, innovative thinking is required. Never has Hong Kong hosted a truly world-class event. With Shanghai having once hosted the World Expo and Beijing having once run the Olympics, the Chinese mainland has undergone a transformative change. Therefore, if Hong Kong wants to enhance its competence and vitality, it must initiate and execute a project that would be world class. A Shenzhen-Hong Kong World Expo in the Northern Metropolis would be a great boon to the development of both cities.

The author is a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies and artistic director of Zuni Icosahedron.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.