Northern Metropolis to add 1 million sq m floorspace
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago6 MIN
Summary
Development Secretary Bernadette Linn Hon-ho (甯漢豪) said during the Legislative Council’s combined debate on the first Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address motion of thanks that the Northern Metropolis has binding targets for the next five years. She said the area is expected to produce 900 hectares of formed land, with 200 hectares for public and private housing, 300 hectares for infrastructure and community facilities, and 400 hectares for industry. Linn also said 1 million square metres of economic floorspace will be provided in the Northern Metropolis and argued it will not affect vacant commercial space in existing core business districts because the new space is for innovation and technology uses in the Hetao area and San Tin Technopole. Officials added that the government is preparing to market a Fanling North area development package and hopes the Northern Metropolis development bill and its first five pieces of subsidiary legislation can take effect from the first quarter of next year.
Key Points
- Linn said the five-year plan sets binding Northern Metropolis targets, including 900 hectares of formed land over the 2026/27 to 2030/31 period.
- Of the 900 hectares, 200 are earmarked for public and private housing, 300 for infrastructure and community facilities, and 400 for industry.
- The planned 1 million square metres of economic floorspace will be in the Hetao zone and San Tin Technopole for innovation and technology activities.
- Linn said that floorspace is different from traditional commercial offices, so it should not worsen vacancy in Hong Kong’s core business districts.
- After the August award of the Hung Shui Kiu area development project, the government is preparing to launch the Fanling North package and continue talks with interested firms.
Why It Matters
The government is tying the Northern Metropolis to measurable land and development targets, which raises expectations for delivery rather than long-term planning alone. Its insistence that the new floorspace is innovation-led, not conventional office stock, is also aimed at reassuring the market while pushing ahead with a major economic shift toward the northern New Territories.