Northern Metropolis could be Hong Kong’s last chance to not ‘miss the boat’

The Northern Metropolis offers far more promise than the Lantau Tomorrow Vision, which smacks of a Hong Kong-centric, inward-looking mindset

To seize this chance, the government needs a concrete plan and a new developmental approach to bypass complex planning regulations

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The northern New Territories, with Shenzhen in the background. The Northern Metropolis plan has sparked renewed interest in the area. Photo: Winson Wong

Regina Ip

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee is convenor of the Executive Council and chairwoman of the New People’s Party.

Published: 9:15am, 17 Oct 2021Updated: 1:29am, 20 Oct 2021

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s policy address on October 6, which was by far her most ambitious and visionary, could be her last if she does not win a second term.

Will the Northern Metropolis, the centrepiece of her address, help her get a second act? More importantly, will it give Hong Kong a chance to regain its mojo and reinvigorate its growth?

Lam’s political future aside, the Northern Metropolis is likely to have a major transformational impact on Hong Kong’s future if executed properly, much more so than the Lantau Tomorrow Vision that was unveiled in Lam’s 2018 address.

The Lantau project is marketed as adding 1,700 hectares of reclaimed land in central waters to land-hungry Hong Kong. It would provide a comprehensive air, road and rail network connecting New Territories West with Hong Kong Island and enable Hong Kong’s prime business districts in Central to expand onto nearby reclaimed areas.