6 takeaways from 2021 Hong Kong policy address: from a new metropolis to Carrie Lam conducting national security classes

Long-term implications abound in address Lam promised would be ‘visionary’, though advisers say that’s no indication of whether she’ll seek second term

Some key elements of address, widely believed to be in line with Beijing development goals, will fall to next administration to carry out

Reading Time:5 minutes

Chief Executive Carrie Lam delivers the last policy address of her current term. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 5:10pm, 6 Oct 2021Updated: 1:30am, 20 Oct 2021

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Over the course of more than two hours, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Wednesday covered almost every aspect of governance in the last policy address of her term – from national security to housing to climate change.

But while significant time was spent lauding her administration’s accomplishments to date, there were also substantial revelations – some with long-term implications – about where its focus will lie over the next six months.

Here are six key takeaways:

1. A Northern Metropolis

Lam announced that northern Hong Kong – a border area composed mostly of agricultural plots, wetlands and brownfield sites – would be developed into a “Northern Metropolis” that would serve as the city’s epicentre of growth over the next 20 years.

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