Policy Address

Develop Northern Metropolis as the New Engine for Growth

54. The Northern Metropolis is the foothold for Hong Kong's strategic development as well as the new engine for Hong Kong to scale new heights. The current-term Government will take forward the development of the Northern Metropolis in full steam. A number of major development projects in the area have already commenced. We will enhance quantity, speed, efficiency and quality in various aspects to vigorously compress the time required for turning pieces of "primitive land" into "spade-ready sites" for major projects by half from more than 10 years in the past.

55. The Government will establish a Steering Committee on the Northern Metropolis and an Advisory Committee on the Northern Metropolis to strengthen the governance system for the development of the area. The former will be led by the Chief Executive to provide high-level policy steer and supervision. The latter, to be chaired by the Financial Secretary and comprising experts and stakeholders in the community, will tender advice and suggestions. The HKSAR Government will collaborate closely with the Guangdong Provincial Government, with a view to enabling the Northern Metropolis to radiate beyond its geographical boundary and creating synergy with the Guangdong Province, the Shenzhen Municipality and the GBA. A department dedicated to the development of the Northern Metropolis will also be set up next year to steer various departments and co-ordinate their innovative efforts in pressing ahead with the development. Our target is to formulate a concrete plan and an action agenda for the Northern Metropolis within next year.