CE Proposes Northern Metropolis In Policy Address

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has proposed developing a metropolis in northern New Territories in her policy address on Wednesday to provide more land for housing and business development.

With an area of some 300 square kilometres, the proposed Northern Metropolis covers Yuen Long and North District. It encompasses current towns such as Tin Shui Wai and Fanling and neighbouring rural areas, as well as new development areas under planning or construction such as Kwu Tung North/Fanling North and San Tin/Lok Ma Chau.

She said the Northern Metropolis will be developed into an international IT hub.

"Proposed individual development projects together with the surrounding rural and conservation areas will be integrated in an innovative and organic manner conducive to upgrading the entire region to a metropolitan area," the chief executive said.

Lam also stressed the need for conservation. She said the ecological functions of around 2,000 hectares of conservation area, including the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site, will be enhanced.

The chief executive said an additional 600 hectares of land could be developed in the new metropolis to provide up to 186,000 new residential units. In all, the region could offer up to 926,000 homes and be home to 2.5 million people in future.

And the number of jobs in the area will rise from 116,000 right now to 650,000.

"With as many as seven land‑based boundary control points, the Northern Metropolis will be the most important area in Hong Kong that facilitates our development integration with Shenzhen and connection with the Greater Bay Area," she said.