Hong Kong must plan for the population it wants to have

Much more than just another new town, the Northern Metropolis is Hong Kong’s most consequential project for its next phase of development, expected to house 2.5 million residents and provide 650,000 jobs. The numbers are well known, but they are not the story.

This population of 2.5 million will be like no other. The Northern Metropolis’ deep integration with Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area means its residents will live, work, study and access services on both sides of the border. As Hong Kong’s population becomes increasingly dynamic and mobile, the Northern Metropolis should serve as the starting point for developing a citywide population strategy that aligns public policies with the realities of a cross-boundary lifestyle.

Hong Kong’s demographic profile is undergoing substantial changes. Fertility remains exceptionally low, at 0.7 to 0.8 births per woman. Residents 65 years and older now account for about 24 per cent of the population. Meanwhile, the number of residents aged 15 to 34 years fell from 1.747 million in 2018 to 1.461 million last year – a decrease of 285,900 people, or 16.4 per cent, in seven years.