Hong Kong Launches Strategy for Northern Metropolis Development
News related to:Hong Kong Special Administrative Region · 3 min read
Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John Lee, has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to develop the Northern Metropolis (NM) and establish it as a global talent hub. The plan, detailed in the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (2026-2030) and the fifth Policy Address, aims to accelerate the development of the NM while fostering high-quality education, innovation, and industry integration.
The NM will serve as a key platform for Hong Kong's engagement with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and its integration into the broader national development. The strategy includes the establishment of the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT), which will consist of three university towns, San Tin, Hung Shui Kiu, and Ta Kwu Ling, covering a combined area of about 300 hectares. The overall planned areas of the three university towns will exceed 1,000 hectares, including surrounding technology, industry, and living community areas.
The first building, Building 1 of the Loop Hong Kong Park, is scheduled for completion by the end of this year and will serve as the flagship project for the NMUT. The HKSAR Government plans to support the capacity expansion and enhancement of post-secondary education, including a gradual increase in the annual quota of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme from 400 to 550 places by the 2029/30 academic year. Additionally, the government will provide an extra $20 million in funding annually to support knowledge transfer and accelerate the transformation of innovative outcomes.
The NMUT is expected to significantly boost Hong Kong's scientific research capabilities and reinforce its global competitive advantages. The NM accounts for about one-third of Hong Kong's total landmass and is projected to house about one-third of the city's population. The HKSAR Government aims to make available approximately 900 hectares of "spade-ready sites" from 2026-27 to 2030-2031, enabling the provision of over 70,000 housing units and one million square metres of economic floor space.
Construction has already begun at four of the nine New Development Areas in the NM, including Kwu Tung North/Fanling North, Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen, Yuen Long South, and San Tin Technopole and the Loop. A cumulative total of about 120 hectares of "spade-ready sites" have been produced up to 2025-26, with plans to produce no less than 200 hectares in 2026-27 and 2027-28.
The development of the NM is part of a broader strategy to attract and retain high-calibre talent. Hong Kong's Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, emphasized the importance of talent, stating, "Talent is the most valuable asset of any economy. It is critical that we have people with the qualifications, experience, and expertise required to support our economic development."
To support this goal, the HKSAR Government has announced several initiatives, including relaxing the requirements on extension of stay under the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) for technology start-up talent and expanding the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Invited Persons to include countries and regions in Central Asia and the Middle East. The government will also introduce a new visa category to allow non-locals to participate in short-term training programmes in Hong Kong, advancing the city's development into a regional training hub.
The HKSAR Government's First Five-Year Plan sets ambitious targets for the development of the Northern Metropolis and the establishment of a global talent hub. The strategy is expected to significantly enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness and contribute to the city's long-term economic and social development.