The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government introduced the Northern Metropolis Development Bill to the Legislative Council on Wednesday for its first and second readings to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis, with the aim of seeing the bill scrutinized and approved within this year.

Following the bill’s first reading at the LegCo meeting, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho motioned to move to its second reading, saying that the construction of the Northern Metropolis is now in its full-scale phase and enterprises are now being established. She added that the government must accelerate the pace of the final stage of construction and promptly respond to the needs of enterprises.

Linn said that she hopes all legislative procedures will be completed within the year, adding that the government will submit the first batch of subsidiary legislation to the legislature after the bill has been scrutinized.

Bordering Shenzhen, the Northern Metropolis is a mega township project that is expected to house one-third of Hong Kong’s population in the future and to inject new economic impetus into the city, particularly in the area of innovation.

LegCo President Starry Lee Wai-king adjourned the second-reading debate and the bill was referred to the House Committee for further deliberation.

Lau Siu-kai, consultant and former vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, told China Daily that he believes the bill signals that the government is “prepared to take innovative, bold, and flexible measures to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis”.

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These measures reflect the government's determination to play an active leadership role in diversifying and upgrading Hong Kong’s industrial structure and in promoting new types of economic activities, Lau said. He added that the experience gained from the development of the Northern Metropolis can subsequently be applied to other areas in Hong Kong to accelerate their development.

Lau also said that the bill’s passage is of great interest to society because of the importance of its implications.

“There is a strong need to listen to the views of prospective investors, enterprises, and universities to incentivize their interest and participation in the Northern Metropolis,” Lau said.

Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadaiyhk.com