Will speeding up rail line for Northern Metropolis entice Hong Kong developers?

Government’s deal with MTR Corp that brings forward completion of spur line should make project more appealing to developers, but will they bite?

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The Kwu Tung MTR station is expected to be completed in 2027. Photo: Eugene Lee

Published: 8:15am, 10 Jul 2025Updated: 4:30pm, 10 Jul 2025

The Hong Kong government’s plan to speed up the construction of the rail backbone of the Northern Metropolis near the border with mainland China will make the megaproject more appealing to developers, but whether they will be persuaded to invest is another matter, experts have said.

Amid a depressed property market, developers have voiced concerns over their profit margins if they commit to building in the hub, which Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong urged the city to complete as soon as possible.

Sources told the Post that a key topic for Xia during his recent visits to Hong Kong was the Northern Metropolis and its potential as the city’s next game changer for its economic future.

On Tuesday, the Transport and Logistics Bureau announced a first-phase deal with the MTR Corporation that would lower the cost of construction and bring forward the completion of a cross-border spur line by at least two years to 2034.

The deal covers the creation of the Northern Link spur line, which will start at Chau Tau station and end at Shenzhen’s Huanggang Port station, allowing commuters to cross the border with greater ease.

Financing for the Northern Link will be boosted by the government granting the rail giant 10 development sites and deducting HK$39.05 billion (US$4.97 billion) from its land premiums. It also opens the door for the company to work with mainland partners.

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