New developments planned in Kwu Tung, a key development area within the Northern Metropolis, demonstrate the district’s diversified positioning, with projects covering housing, government services, sports, culture and tourism — including a museum that will showcase the nation’s achievements to local residents.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho made the remarks to the media on Thursday after inspecting the area with 64 Legislative Council members. It was the third such tour of the mega-township project this year.

Linn said land in Kwu Tung has also been reserved for an exhibition hall introducing the overall development of the Northern Metropolis. The venue is scheduled to be completed in the first half of next year. A swimming venue capable of hosting international competitions is also planned for the area.

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According to Linn, 12,000 flats in Kwu Tung North — part of the area’s 50,000-unit capacity — will be completed and ready for occupancy in phases by next year. These will include public rental housing, dedicated rehousing estates, and private housing.

The Mass Transit Railway Corp’s Kwu Tung station will also commence operation next year, and the area’s first government service building will come into service in phases, starting in 2029, she added.

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin said the Northern Metropolis can provide 150,000 public rental housing flats and subsidized sale flats over the next decade, including 30,000 flats in Kwu Tung.

“The Northern Metropolis will also become the test bed for innovative technologies, such as modular integrated construction and smart management, to align with the nation’s higher levels of productivity and improve the quality of the housing ladder,” Ho said.

Speaking of the Lady Ho Tung Welfare Centre, one of the stops on the tour, Linn said the Northern Metropolis houses 380 historical sites and declared monuments, which are important cultural resources and highlight the need for urban-rural integration.

She added that by the end of this year, the government will seek funding approval from the Legislative Council to establish a HK$200 million ($25.5 million) Pilot Scheme of the Northern Metropolis Urban-Rural Integration Fund, aimed at encouraging organizations to carry out projects with cultural, historical, or tourism value.

The delegation also visited the Long Valley Nature Park, a 37-hectare ecological conservation facility integrating wetland preservation, farming, and nature education. Since opening in November 2024, it has welcomed over 140,000 visitors.

“The inspection focused on the diversified development of the Northern Metropolis, highlighting how the overall planning can achieve integrated community development — showcasing housing supplies, heritage revitalization, new efforts in urban-rural integration, and strong emphasis on ecological conservation,” Linn said.

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“The government will continue communicating with the Legislative Council and all sectors of society to ensure the Northern Metropolis is well built, support the long-term development of the Hong Kong SAR, and integrate and serve the national development,” she added.

Legislative Council President Starry Lee Wai-king said LegCo members will make good use of this experience to promote and oversee the various development works in the Northern Metropolis.

She added that LegCo will adhere to the principles of “efficiency first, prudence as the foundation” in relation to the works.

Previous inspections focused on the latest industry developments in the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area and the Hong Kong Park of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone.

Contact the writers at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com