City accelerates project to better align with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan

The Northern Metropolis is not only a key engine of Hong Kong’s future growth, but also central to the special administrative region’s integration into the nation’s broader development strategies, said Linda So Wai-sze, head of Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office.

Established in June 2023 under the Development Bureau, the office plays an overall coordinating role in land, housing, and infrastructure planning for development projects across the region.

So said that dedicated legislation to accelerate Northern Metropolis development is expected to be completed this year, adding that the government will provide tailored support for enterprises based on their diverse needs.

So made the remarks on Monday at a forum, organized by the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, focusing on new opportunities for the city under the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).

Adopted in March, the national strategic blueprint pledges support for Hong Kong to fast-track the development of the Northern Metropolis — a mega project spanning about 30,000 hectares across the Yuen Long and North districts, envisioned as an integrated living and economic hub.

To speed up the project, the Hong Kong SAR government has submitted legislative proposals to the Legislative Council. A two-month public consultation is underway and is set to conclude by May 22.

So said the government is making every effort to advance the project. Once passed, the dedicated legislation is expected to remove development barriers and ease restrictions, expediting statutory procedures related to land planning, administration, and construction.

The legislation will also enhance integration with the Chinese mainland by facilitating cross-border flows of people, goods, capital and data, she added.

At the same event, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said that about 80 technology companies and institutions have established a presence in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone.

The park, part of the Northern Metropolis project, officially began operations in December. Sun said nearly 90 percent of the space in the park’s two completed wet-lab buildings has already been leased, with another five buildings scheduled for completion this year.

Sun said the government is also stepping up efforts to develop more research and development institutes and support projects in cutting-edge fields such as healthcare technologies, artificial intelligence and robotics, as well as sustainable energy and new materials.

“We aim to bring together more world-class innovation resources, strengthen our research capabilities and drive further technological breakthroughs and the commercialization of research outcomes,” Sun said. “This will bolster Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development, and contribute to the country’s new quality productive forces.”

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To better align with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, the HKSAR government aims to roll out its own five-year development blueprint this year. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu described it as “a guiding framework for pioneering new horizons and achieving a new step forward for Hong Kong”.

Also speaking at the forum, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po highlighted the importance of the city’s first five-year plan, saying that Hong Kong, as a small but highly open economy, needs a clear road map amid the rapid shaping of global supply, industrial, capital and innovation chains.

Chan said Hong Kong should explore three key directions over the next five years, including leveraging AI to empower its industrial ecosystem.

“In this era of AI transformation, Hong Kong does not need to be a jack of all trades, but it must position itself as a superconnector — linking world-class research, the mainland’s powerful manufacturing capabilities, and global capital networks,” he added.

Contact the writer at gabylin@chinadailyhk.com