Key facts
- Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis megaproject will provide 1 million square meters of economic floor space.
- The supply is primarily intended for the innovation and technology (I&T) sector, not the general office market.
- Chief Executive John Lee announced measures to reduce construction costs and time for the project.
- A Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis has been established, led by the Chief Executive.
- The San Tin Technopole is designated as a strategic base for I&T within the Northern Metropolis.
- The project aims to foster cross-boundary collaboration with Shenzhen.
Hong Kong's Secretary for Development, Bernadette Linn Hon-ho, has stated that the commercial floor space planned for the Northern Metropolis megaproject will not exacerbate the city's struggling office market, as the supply is primarily targeted at the innovation and technology (I&T) sector. Linn made these remarks to the Legislative Council on Thursday, addressing concerns about the impact of the project's 1 million square meters (10.8 million square feet) of economic floor space.
Chief Executive John Lee's 2025 Policy Address emphasized accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis, a 300-square-kilometer area intended to accommodate 2.5 million people and serve as a new engine for economic growth. Measures to fast-track development include reducing construction costs and time, promoting market participation, and encouraging enterprises to invest. Lee announced the establishment of the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, which he will lead, to streamline administrative processes and remove barriers. Three working groups will support this committee, focusing on development models, university town planning, and overall planning and construction.
Dedicated legislation is planned to simplify statutory procedures for the project. Within the Northern Metropolis, the San Tin Technopole, spanning 210 hectares, is designated as a strategic base for the I&T industry. The government will release a Conceptual Outline for its development plan. The project also aims to foster cross-boundary collaboration with mainland China through the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, leveraging a "one zone, two parks" approach. Plans also include building an international education hub.