Key facts
- Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, will visit Hong Kong on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- The visit's agenda includes inspecting the Northern Metropolis project.
- Xia will also assess Hong Kong's integration into the national 15th five-year plan.
- He is scheduled to visit the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone.
- Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will accompany Xia during the Hetao visit.
Beijing's top official overseeing Hong Kong affairs, Xia Baolong, is scheduled to visit the city on Tuesday and Wednesday. The visit by the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office will include an inspection of the Northern Metropolis, a megaproject aimed at developing 30,000 hectares of land into an economic growth engine and housing hub.
Xia's itinerary also involves assessing Hong Kong's alignment with the national 15th five-year plan and the progress of its integration into national development. This visit occurs just one day after the commencement of a two-month public consultation for Hong Kong's inaugural five-year plan.
Sources indicate that Xia intends to review the Hong Kong authorities' progress in drafting the plan and explore ways to enhance cooperation mechanisms among cities in the Greater Bay Area. During his visit, Xia is also expected to tour the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone in Lok Ma Chau, accompanied by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.