The central government has placed significant emphasis on Hong Kong’s development, particularly its role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area initiative.
The Northern Metropolis development is pivotal to Hong Kong’s future socioeconomic development. During his inspection of the Greater Bay Area cooperation platforms in February, Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, visited the Northern Metropolis, and subsequently urged the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to embrace reform, pursue innovative breakthroughs, and accelerate the Northern Metropolis development with greater intensity.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu recently underscored during a media interview that the Northern Metropolis development represents a new growth engine for Hong Kong and is integral to its integration into national development. Pointing to the pressure brought about by global competition, Lee asserted that the Northern Metropolis development must accelerate. Public consultation for the upcoming Policy Address in September has commenced, and Lee called for valuable input from all sectors of society, particularly regarding the Northern Metropolis development.
Indeed, acceleration of Northern Metropolis development is imperative. Three and a half years have passed since the previous administration released the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy in October 2021, and nearly 20 months have elapsed since the current administration published the Northern Metropolis Action Agenda 2023 in October that year. Yet progress remains unimpressive, suggesting the need for a heightened sense of urgency.
Acceleration of Northern Metropolis development is made all the more imperative by many factors. Globally, the rapid advance of artificial intelligence is driving a new wave of technological innovation and industrial transformation. Major economies like the United States, the European Union, and China are racing to ride the wave to obtain first-mover advantage, such as acquiring a premier position in global supply chains, the privilege to set standards and regulations, and gaining enviable benefits in the years to come. The Hong Kong SAR missed a great opportunity during the previous internet-driven economic surge, which should not be allowed to happen again.
Innovation and technology (I&T) has been identified as a focus of Northern Metropolis development, which is highly forward-looking. But delayed action puts Hong Kong at risk of missing the boat again.
Furthermore, the Northern Metropolis development strategy functions as a crucial interface mechanism for integration into the national development framework. Adjacent to Shenzhen, the Northern Metropolis enables deeper Hong Kong-Shenzhen collaboration, extending an industrial chain that combines Hong Kong research and development plus Hong Kong branding plus Shenzhen intelligent manufacturing. The anticipated synergy will amplify the power of Hong Kong’s advantages plus Greater Bay Area (mainland side) resources plus global markets, generating a multiplier effect where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
The Northern Metropolis development is an ambitious undertaking to reshape Hong Kong’s future socioeconomic development and a major pathway for the city’s integration into the national development framework
From a local perspective, the Northern Metropolis development is essential for enhancing Hong Kong’s economic resilience. Encompassing approximately 30,000 hectares — roughly one-third of Hong Kong’s total land area — when the Northern Metropolis development is completed, Hong Kong should have established an “I&T in the north; finance in the south” economic development pattern. Hong Kong’s current leading sectors are heavily reliant on trade and port operation, rendering its economy vulnerable to external shocks. Establishing a robust I&T-based economic pillar in the north will significantly strengthen Hong Kong’s economic stability, dynamism, and long-term sustainability.
To overcome the bottlenecks and accelerate the Northern Metropolis development, targeted measures are required in several key areas.
First, upgrade existing laws and enact new legislation. Article 7 of the Basic Law provides that “The land and natural resources within the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be State property. The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be responsible for their management, use and development and for their lease or grant to individuals, legal persons or organizations for use or development. The revenues derived therefrom shall be exclusively at the disposal of the government of the region.” This provides a solid legal foundation for resolving disputes arising from land requisition. A systematic review of Northern Metropolis-related land requisition issues should be conducted, followed by legal framework enhancement to facilitate development.
Second, strengthen coordination and cooperation among relevant authorities. During the development of Singapore’s Jurong Industrial Estate in 1968, the Jurong Town Corp was established as a dedicated statutory body. Having been tasked with managing Jurong and other industrial parks across Singapore, Jurong Town Corp operated with a high degree of autonomy as an entity funded and planned by the government. This institutional framework proved instrumental in achieving industrial transformation. Hong Kong can draw on this model by establishing a Northern Metropolis development authority vested with administrative approval powers, which would be institutionalized through legislation.
Third, establish Greater Bay Area standards. Hong Kong’s infrastructure sector predominantly relies on European standards. With the adoption of new products, materials, technologies and construction methods, certain standards have become outdated. While China’s infrastructure capabilities are globally competitive, many mainland-set standards cannot be applied in the HKSAR because of regulatory incompatibility. This discrepancy obstructs mainland enterprises’ participation in the Northern Metropolis development. Hong Kong should collaborate with other Greater Bay Area cities to accelerate the formulation of unified Greater Bay Area standards, thereby accelerating infrastructure construction.
Fourth, reform the administrative approval system. Replace the sequential approval model with a parallel approval model to improve efficiency. Where parallel approvals pose potential risks, a hybrid model of parallel approvals plus collective review can be adopted to maintain necessary controls while expediting progress.
Fifth, implement a phased land development strategy, similar to the model pioneered in Shenzhen’s Qianhai. Land within the Northern Metropolis should be developed in stages based on readiness. Parcels ready for development can be used to host residential and office buildings. Less mature parcels should also be utilized — for example, for transitional housing projects, temporary green spaces, or parks — quickly establishing an urban framework to enhance the Northern Metropolis’ overall appeal.
Finally, make good use of the consultation mechanism. Land ownership in the Northern Metropolis is highly complex, with diverse demands from indigenous communities. Consequently, the tasks of land acquisition, relocation, and resettlement are extremely challenging. It is essential to handle relevant issues in accordance with the law while making full use of consultations to find viable solutions.
The Northern Metropolis development is an ambitious undertaking to reshape Hong Kong’s future socioeconomic development and a major pathway for the city’s integration into the national development framework. All sectors of Hong Kong society are stakeholders in this endeavor, and active participation from everyone is vital for its success.
Xia arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday for his second inspection tour within five months. Given his consistent attention to Northern Metropolis development, it is hoped that it really will be accelerated after his new inspection trip.
The author is vice-chairman of the Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and chairman of the Hong Kong New Era Development Thinktank.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
