Key facts
- Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, is visiting Hong Kong for two days.
- The visit includes inspections of housing and Northern Metropolis developments.
- Xia visited a light public housing project in Yuen Long.
- He was briefed on the use of Modular Integrated Construction for housing.
- The visit aims to assess Hong Kong's alignment with China's 15th Five-Year Plan.
Beijing's top official on Hong Kong affairs, Xia Baolong, commenced a two-day visit to the city on Tuesday, focusing on key development projects including housing and the Northern Metropolis. Xia, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, was accompanied by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin during his inspection of a light public housing project in Yuen Long.
During the visit to the housing scheme, which aims to provide 30,000 temporary flats for families with long waiting times, Ho briefed Xia on the project's progress and the use of Modular Integrated Construction. This technique involves manufacturing modules in mainland Chinese factories for on-site installation, highlighting the advantages of the Greater Bay Area's industrial capacity in addressing Hong Kong's housing challenges.
Xia also visited the exhibition center of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen new development area. The overall purpose of his visit is to inspect Hong Kong's alignment with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the advancement of the Northern Metropolis, a large-scale project intended to transform rural areas near the mainland border into a tech hub.