EditorialSpecial laws can help the Northern Metropolis pick up pace
It is vital that the megaproject proceeds as quickly as possible while adhering to standards and monitoring
Comprising six main subsidiary laws designed to remove development bottlenecks, the proposed legislation provides for the establishment of statutory firms and includes measures to speed up land resumption payments, simplify the application of noise permits, facilitate the cross-border flow of people and goods, and extend the validity period for temporary land use.
It also seeks to simplify town planning procedures. This means applications to change land use in non-conservation areas can effectively be slashed from the existing nine months to two. Developers that come forward will face less uncertainty.
This is not the first attempt to streamline Hong Kong’s planning processes. In 2023, the authorities reduced the duration of land formation by as much as six years and consolidated the consultations in one planning procedure. The latest move is among a raft of game-changing initiatives to fast-track the project.
The proposed legislation underlines the urgency of development. The vision of turning 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) of land into a new commercial, innovation and housing hub was first floated in 2021. The stakes have become even higher after the key strategic development zone became an integral part of Hong Kong’s proactive alignment with China’s 15th five-year plan.
Officials have said there is no plan to apply the new development model outside the scope of the project. There are also assurances that green belts, country parks and areas of high ecological value will not be affected.