Foreign consuls tour Northern Metropolis as officials court partners
HK01 · 5 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese foreign ministry in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong government jointly organized a visit to the Northern Metropolis for foreign consuls and representatives on Wednesday, October 28, taking them to the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in Hetao and the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area. Attendance was described as nearly 70 representatives from consulates by some outlets, including 30 consuls general, while others put the broader delegation of consuls and officials at close to 100 people. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said the Northern Metropolis is not an empty paper plan, arguing it has already produced tangible results and is moving into a more mature stage. Commissioner Cui Jianchun said Hong Kong should not and cannot build the Northern Metropolis alone, and he called for cooperation with other countries to develop the area
Key Points
- The delegation first visited the Hetao park, where Northern Metropolis Office head So Wai-sze and park chief executive Ma Weishan briefed participants on the latest development plans
- Visitors toured talent accommodation and wet laboratories at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park before heading to the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen community liaison centre.
- Cui Jianchun described the Northern Metropolis as a new engine for Hong Kong’s future development and said it also carries implications for other countries’ development.
- Eric Chan said the project, launched in 2021, has risen from a large land development scheme to an initiative with national strategic significance.
- Pakistan’s consul general said the area combines logistics and information technology industries, while Uruguay’s consul general said he would encourage visiting firms to inspect opportunities there
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the visit shows the government is trying to turn the Northern Metropolis into an externally marketed investment and talent platform rather than a purely domestic land project. It also suggests officials want foreign business communities to view the area through concrete site visits, especially in innovation, education and cross-border industry links.