Dismantling Walls, Relaxing Policies, Breaking Through the Old and Establishing the New: Accelerating the Construction of the Northern Metropolitan Area in Hong Kong
2025-09-19
The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Carrie Lam, recently released a new policy address announcing the establishment of the "Northern Metropolis Development Committee" led by the Chief Executive. The committee will enact exclusive legislation to accelerate the development of the northern metropolitan area and authorize the SAR government to formulate simplified legal procedures. Experts say that the special administrative region government is taking a series of measures to demolish walls and loosen restrictions, break through old and establish new, and accelerate the construction of the northern capital. Beidu borders Shenzhen, with an area and future population accounting for about one-third of Hong Kong's total. It is a strategic development area with enormous economic value and development potential, capable of creating a large number of jobs and enhancing productivity. Li Jiachao stated that in order to better develop the economy and improve people's livelihoods, the construction of Beidu must be accelerated. The Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Paul Chan, stated that Beidou is an engine leading the future development of Hong Kong, an important carrier of the innovation and technology industry, and an important base for cooperation with sister cities in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. At present, the basic plan for Beidu has been formulated, and it is a critical period to introduce industries and major projects to accelerate the ecological construction and development of Hong Kong's innovation and technology industry. Tu Haiming, Chairman of the Hong Kong New Era Development Think Tank, stated that the policy address has made significant breakthroughs in the construction of the northern capital. One is to enhance the decision-making level. The "Beidu Development Committee" has established three working groups, reflecting the determination to make every effort to overcome difficulties; The second is to simplify administrative processes, introduce a rapid approval system, flexible land allocation, etc., reflecting the confidence in reform and change; The third is to establish exclusive laws to accelerate the development of the northern capital, authorizing the government to formulate simplified legal procedures, reflecting the will to win. The construction of Beidou has taken substantial steps towards the integration of industry and city. ”The Chairman of the Hong Kong Economic Think Tank, Shi Zhu, stated that the three working groups under the newly established "North City Development Committee" will collaborate and divide labor. The "Development and Operation Model Design Group" will be responsible for exploring innovative investment, financing, and operation models, the "University Town Planning and Construction Group" will focus on integrating and introducing higher education resources, and the "Planning and Development Working Group" will coordinate overall planning and construction progress. Through the encryption of transportation networks and the tilt of industrial policies, this land has become a "strategic interface" for Hong Kong to integrate into the overall development of the country. Chen Chenglu, the president of the Jiangxi Province Hong Kong Fellow Association, stated that the removal of barriers and loosening of restrictions is a bold breakthrough in Hong Kong's traditional development model, which will stimulate the construction of the northern capital and generate a demonstration effect. Whether it is introducing a rapid approval system or implementing a phased development model in a pilot form; Still adopt a diversified development model to promote market participation and accelerate development; Flexible allocation of land and promotion of enterprise settlement and investment are both precise measures to address the current pain points in the development of Beidou. Hong Kong Legislative Council member and Vice Dean (External Affairs) of the Faculty of Engineering at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Wong Kam Fai, suggested that the "Beidou University City" be developed into a "research and development achievement transformation center", and the SAR government can invite technology enterprises with scale and research and development capabilities to participate. Collaboration between cutting-edge R&D departments of enterprises and universities can not only expose students to the latest industry trends and enhance their practical abilities, but also provide new thinking and potential talents for enterprises, achieving a win-win situation between schools and enterprises, and further promoting the collaborative development of innovation in the Greater Bay Area. Huang Haoming, Executive Director of Henderson Land Development Limited, stated that Beidou is an important engine for Hong Kong's development. The SAR government has simplified administrative measures, reduced construction costs, designed different financing plans for Beidou, allowed for "pay as you go", and encouraged market participation in Beidou's development. In particular, the phased development model for the commercial land in Hung Shui Kiu will help enhance the flexibility of real estate developers' development and finance, and accelerate the development of Beidou. The Xintian Technology City is located in the heart of Beidou, and approximately 20 hectares of innovative and technological land in the Xintian area will be gradually handed over to the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation for development and operation. The Science and Technology Park Corporation stated that it is conducting overall planning research on the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park Xintian Science and Technology City Park (temporary name) project and will make every effort to promote the project. Through collaborative cooperation with the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area technology cluster, a complete innovation and technology industry chain will be constructed. Chen Chenglu stated that Hong Kong, which is currently in a critical period of transition from governance to prosperity, is facing the dual task of transforming old and new driving forces and integrating into the overall development of the country. The policy address focuses on reform and people's livelihood, echoing the demands of the times and the expectations of the citizens. As a strategic hub for Hong Kong's future development, Beidou is not only responsible for improving people's livelihoods and technological innovation, but also has an important task of exploring the development model of the Special Administrative Region under the "One Country, Two Systems" policy. For the construction of the northern capital, all sectors in Hong Kong need to fully understand its value and significance at the national level, fully support the innovative efforts of the SAR government, and devote themselves wholeheartedly to the construction and development with practical actions, jointly opening up new horizons and achieving new breakthroughs. (New Society)
Edit:He Chuanning Responsible editor:Su Suiyue
Source:Xinhua
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