Senior Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government officials, led by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, presented the strategic blueprint for the city’s ambitious Northern Metropolis to members of the central government publicity delegation on Monday, detailing the progress of key projects underpinning the plan.

The delegation, which includes Hou Jianguo, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Zhu Weidong, deputy director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs and the deputy director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Rural Affairs, CPC, was on a two-day inspection tour of the city to brief the community on the essence of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China’s fourth plenary session.

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The delegation first visited the construction site office for the Kwu Tung North New Development Area. The Area, primarily focused on residential communities, and government and community facilities, is the first new development area in the Northern Metropolis to enter the construction phase.

Members were briefed on the project’s progress, with the first phase scheduled for completion in 2026. The remaining construction is expected to be finished by 2031.

Addressing the significance of the initiative, Chan said the Northern Metropolis is the “most important part of Hong Kong’s future development”. The project encompasses one-third of Hong Kong’s total land area, and is poised to become a powerhouse for innovation and technology, he added.

“Hong Kong’s future urban planning will follow a ‘south finance, north I&T’ model,” Chan said, adding that the decision to develop the innovation and technology industry in the northern part of the city is twofold: the existing presence of the Science Park in the New Territories, and the critical need for close collaboration with Shenzhen and other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

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Following Chan’s overview, Pecvin Yong Pui-wan, acting director of the Northern Metropolis Coordination Office, provided further details on the overall planning and construction progress of the Northern Metropolis and the Kwu Tung North New Development Area.

The tour continued to the Hong Kong Park of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park where the members engaged with two tech companies, from Beijing and Germany, that have decided to have a presence in the park.

The two firms cited the park’s strategic location and favorable policies as key factors in their decisions.

During interactions, delegation members expressed the hope that everyone can seize opportunities presented by the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) and leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world.

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They said this will accelerate the development of not only the Northern Metropolis, but also the SAR into an international innovation and technology hub, thereby contributing to national development.

Touted as a major Greater Bay Area initiative, the 87-hectare Hong Kong Park is set to officially open on Dec 10.

Delegation members also inspected the talent accommodation building, comprising 100 units, with professionals expected to move in by the end of next month.

Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com