The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has completed the first round of discussions at the Legislative Council on dedicated legislation for the Northern Metropolis, with officials saying on Tuesday that they aim to finalize the legislative process before the year ends.
The government proposal, presented to the LegCo Panel on Development, marks a major step in accelerating development of the Northern Metropolis — a flagship mega construction project designed to strengthen Hong Kong’s integration with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and serve as a new driver of long-term economic growth.
Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said the forthcoming bill, scheduled for its first reading at LegCo later this year, would provide “a solid and flexible legal framework” to expedite infrastructure and housing construction, attract new industries, and enhance cross-border connectivity with Shenzhen.
“The Northern Metropolis has entered the stage of large-scale construction,” Linn said. “Over the next five years, about 900 hectares of spade-ready sites will be formed.” She added that around 120 hectares of land have already been developed.
The dedicated legislation to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis will introduce a framework authorizing the Chief Executive-in-Council to enact subsidiary legislation in critical policy areas including streamlining town planning procedures, expediting compensation for resumed land, and regulating cross-border resource flow.
“It will provide clearer and more adaptive arrangements for planning, land management and industry promotion, enabling the government to respond swiftly to market changes,” she said.
To improve transparency in the legislative process, the government plans to release the first batch of draft subsidiary legislation alongside the main bill, allowing lawmakers to examine both concurrently. Under the proposal, subsidiary laws will come into force 49 days after being gazetted, giving LegCo sufficient time for review.
According to lawmaker Yiu Ming, whose constituency falls within the Northern Metropolis, the accelerated process for changing land use or relaxing development parameters to around two months, compared with nine months under the current land use regime, would give private developers greater flexibility and affordability in the “gold rush” to develop new residential and commercial areas.
He added that the proposed legislation, which allows temporary land use for up to seven years, is another impetus for enterprises to test the market while leaving room for future adjustments, a move some panel lawmakers have described as “a taster” for attracting investors.
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“Seven years is encouraging but not far-sighted enough for a dedicated investor,” said veteran legislator Leung Mei-fun. “The Northern Metropolis must be planned with a far-sighted approach, beyond the seven-year horizon.”
According to Leung, improved coordination in logistics and construction would help “tear down barriers” slowing progress in the region under mega-development.
Leung, who is also a barrister, called for a stronger government presence in the Northern Metropolis, adding that a visionary, long-term governmental commitment would help the city align with the national 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).
Leung told China Daily she supports the legislative initiative, describing it as being “in line with the Basic Law” and “necessary for breaking through procedural constraints”. She added that establishing statutory bodies to oversee planning and investment could help strengthen coordination and promote sustained growth.
Leung and Yiu, who are members of the panel reviewing the government paper, said the legislation outlines a clear boundary for the Northern Metropolis region for the first time, “making it easier for investors to make up their business decisions”.
The new mechanism would empower the Director of Lands to pay compensation directly to the landowners, thus accelerating the construction process.
Officials in the Development Bureau stressed this measure aims to resolve long-standing bottlenecks and reduce financing costs linked to delayed payments.
Other measures include facilitating cross-border personnel and data flows, and relaxing certain requirements under the Buildings Ordinance to allow the use of innovative construction technologies and materials widely adopted in Chinese mainland, a measure supported by the LegCo panel.
A two-month public consultation on the proposed legislation began on Tuesday and will run until May 22 before the bill is tabled to LegCo later this year.
Contact the writer at jessicachen@chinadailyhk.com
