https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/511011/feed Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor laid down the blueprint for the Northern Metropolis in her 2021 policy address. The scheme, repackaged and expanded from an existing new town plan, involves the development of an IT hub in northern New Territories near the border with mainland China, construction of up to 186,000 homes and a new cross-border railway linking the city to the Qianhai economic zone in Shenzhen. The plan, which would take 20 years to deliver, is seen as a major strategic change for... en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Vivian Au,Lexi Tian Vivian Au,Lexi Tian One of Hong Kong’s last traditional sauce makers is to cease operations, ending its 90-year legacy, after authorities cleared land at its Kwu Tung factory on Friday. Established in 1936, Kui Lee Sauce and Preserved Fruit confirmed to the South China Morning Post that it would close down once its remaining inventory at its shop in Wan Chai was sold. “Our factory in Kwu Tung has halted production, and all remaining stock is at our retail shop. We will close permanently after selling through all... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371935/hong-kong-sauce-maker-close-after-90-years-making-way-northern-metropolis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371935/hong-kong-sauce-maker-close-after-90-years-making-way-northern-metropolis Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:36:16 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong is significantly lagging behind its neighbours and ranks near the bottom in meeting the growing demand for artificial intelligence supply chains, according to a major index evaluating key developments across the Greater Bay Area. The finding is part of the Greater Bay Area Industry Development Index 2026, jointly released on Thursday by think tank Our Hong Kong Foundation and Dah Sing Bank. The index evaluated the performance of the 11 cities in the bay area in key sectors including... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371821/hong-kong-badly-lags-peers-greater-bay-area-ai-supply-chains https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371821/hong-kong-badly-lags-peers-greater-bay-area-ai-supply-chains Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:11:43 +0000 SCMP Plus SCMP Plus Download the PDF This is the sixth in a series of factsheets about Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and the 2026 policy address. Click here to view the other factsheets. The series has been produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This Factsheet will appear in the SCMP print edition on October 26. You can find the newspaper at newsstands and convenience stores. For inquiries, contact... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3371709/making-it-metropolis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3371709/making-it-metropolis Thu, 22 Oct 2026 02:30:25 +0000 SCMP Plus SCMP Plus Download the PDF This is the fifth in a series of factsheets about Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and the 2026 policy address. Click here to view the other factsheets. The series has been produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This factsheet will appear in the SCMP print edition on October 26. You can find the newspaper at newsstands and convenience stores. For inquiries, contact... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3371708/hong-kongs-bay-area-vision https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3371708/hong-kongs-bay-area-vision Thu, 22 Oct 2026 02:30:22 +0000 SCMP SCMP This is the sixth in a series of factsheets about Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and the 2026 policy address. Click here to view the other factsheets. The series has been produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This Factsheet will appear in the SCMP print edition on October 26. You can find the newspaper at newsstands and convenience stores. For inquiries, contact printsupport@scmp.com. https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371703/making-it-metropolis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371703/making-it-metropolis Thu, 22 Oct 2026 01:30:38 +0000 Kristen Cheung Kristen Cheung A second batch of land at Hong Kong’s flagship tech hub at the border with mainland China has drawn nine bids, with frontier technology firms and major conglomerates among the tenderers. The Loop Hong Kong Park Company, which operates the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP), revealed the results on Tuesday, nearly two months after six bids were received from conglomerates and hi-tech firms for its inaugural land tender at the end of August. Tuesday’s tender covered three... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371553/second-land-tender-hong-kongs-border-tech-hub-draws-9-bids https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371553/second-land-tender-hong-kongs-border-tech-hub-draws-9-bids Tue, 20 Oct 2026 15:32:16 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s legislature has for the first time used artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse lawmakers’ remarks during a three-day debate on the city’s first five-year plan and the latest annual policy address, with talent and the Northern Metropolis emerging as the most-discussed topics. Legislative Council president Starry Lee Wai-king said on Saturday that an overview of the six-session debate had been produced using AI. The session on improving livelihood protections drew the largest number... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3371265/ai-used-first-time-analyse-lawmakers-5-year-plan-policy-address-debate https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3371265/ai-used-first-time-analyse-lawmakers-5-year-plan-policy-address-debate Sat, 17 Oct 2026 11:30:12 +0000 Peggy Ye,Kandy Wong Peggy Ye,Kandy Wong The wallpaper on Allan Zeman’s office desktop computer screen is an image of Chandara, the private estate in Phuket that he has owned for more than two decades. Now the “father of Lan Kwai Fong” is bringing the Thai resort-style concept to Hong Kong’s luxury housing market. Located in rural Sai Kung, 181 Clearwater is the first local residential project for Zeman’s Lan Kwai Fong Group. Developed with Far East Consortium and Hien Lee Engineering, the project – which has received presale approval... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371103/father-lan-kwai-fong-allan-zeman-pivots-hong-kongs-luxury-home-market https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371103/father-lan-kwai-fong-allan-zeman-pivots-hong-kongs-luxury-home-market Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:00:25 +0000 SCMP Plus SCMP Plus Download the PDF This is the fourth in a series of factsheets about Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and 2026 policy address. Part I – Hong Kong’s new chapter Part II – The story begins ... Part III – Sharpening Hong Kong’s edge Part IV – Tapping into tech and talent The series has been produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This Factsheet will appear in the SCMP print edition on October... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3371079/tapping-tech-and-talent https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3371079/tapping-tech-and-talent Fri, 16 Oct 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. Hong Kong’s first five-year plan should not be judged simply by its resemblance to mainland planning, nor by the number of targets it contains. Its real test is whether long-term policy coordination can strengthen the qualities that make Hong Kong internationally... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3370265/5-year-plan-must-preserve-what-makes-hong-kong-distinctive https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3370265/5-year-plan-must-preserve-what-makes-hong-kong-distinctive Sun, 11 Oct 2026 03:30:07 +0000 Edith Lin,Wynna Wong Edith Lin,Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s legislature has passed motions supporting the city’s first five-year plan and thanking Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu for his latest policy address, while Beijing’s top representative in the city urged mainland Chinese enterprises to align themselves with the government’s blueprint. At the close of a three-day Legislative Council debate on Friday, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki thanked lawmakers for their suggestions, saying they would help improve governance. “The process of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3370401/hong-kong-lawmakers-back-5-year-plan-firms-urged-align-blueprint https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3370401/hong-kong-lawmakers-back-5-year-plan-firms-urged-align-blueprint Fri, 09 Oct 2026 14:44:17 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s development chief has dismissed concerns that commercial floor space in the Northern Metropolis megaproject will further depress the city’s struggling office market, stressing that incoming supply is primarily for the innovation and technology (I&T) sector. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho told the Legislative Council on Thursday that the 1 million square metres (10.8 million square feet) of economic floor space to be provided in the megaproject next to the Shenzhen... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3370199/development-chief-dismisses-fears-northern-metropolis-supply-will-hit-office-sector https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3370199/development-chief-dismisses-fears-northern-metropolis-supply-will-hit-office-sector Thu, 08 Oct 2026 10:56:32 +0000 Edith Lin,Matthew Cheng Edith Lin,Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s economy continued to expand in the third quarter of this year, driven by strong exports and tourism, the finance chief has said, while warning of risks including the Middle East war and global inflation. Addressing lawmakers during a debate on the city’s first five-year plan and annual policy blueprint on Wednesday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also reiterated that he was confident the economy would grow by between 3.5 per cent and 4.5 per cent this year. He noted that gross... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3370061/hong-kong-finance-chief-says-economy-grew-third-quarter-warns-external-risks https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3370061/hong-kong-finance-chief-says-economy-grew-third-quarter-warns-external-risks Wed, 07 Oct 2026 10:00:33 +0000 Kristen Cheung Kristen Cheung The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is looking to secure more laboratory space in the Northern Metropolis university town to expand its research capacity and attract talent, its new vice-president for research has said. Professor Anderson Shum Ho-cheung, who took up the vice presidency in August, also called for more government funding, saying grant applications took time and returns on investment could be slow. Shum said the university’s research development would align with the government’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3369716/hku-eyes-northern-metropolis-expansion-boost-research-capacity-attract-talent https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3369716/hku-eyes-northern-metropolis-expansion-boost-research-capacity-attract-talent Mon, 05 Oct 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong refrained from setting overly rigid economic indicators in its first five-year plan to avoid fuelling concerns that it was moving towards a planned economy, according to the city’s constitutional affairs minister. The current priority should be hitting targets instead of dwelling on accountability mechanisms for potential shortcomings, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse Siu-wa said. Tse also emphasised the government’s efforts to explore administrative... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3369715/hong-kong-resisted-rigid-5-year-plan-goals-allay-planned-economy-fears-minister https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3369715/hong-kong-resisted-rigid-5-year-plan-goals-allay-planned-economy-fears-minister Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:30:12 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal As education sector demand supports Hong Kong’s Grade A office leasing activity, analysts said infrastructure that will serve the Northern Metropolis could decide whether schools and universities move their administrative and other services to this potential new centre of the city. “Over the medium to long term, the Northern Metropolis could be a viable option for institutions seeking to expand their teaching, research and administrative facilities,” said Kelvin Lee, director at property agency... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3369267/could-northern-metropolis-draw-educational-leasing-hong-kongs-grade-office-sector https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3369267/could-northern-metropolis-draw-educational-leasing-hong-kongs-grade-office-sector Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Ken Ip Ken Ip When Hong Kong’s first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, announced his housing plan in 1997, the ambition was extraordinary. The government would produce at least 85,000 flats a year across the public and private sectors, and raise the home ownership rate to 70 per cent. The idea was simple. Build more homes, make housing more affordable and allow more families to own a piece of Hong Kong. Then history intervened. The Asian financial crisis struck. Property prices collapsed. The economy weakened.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368422/how-hong-kong-trying-new-solution-its-land-value-problem https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368422/how-hong-kong-trying-new-solution-its-land-value-problem Mon, 28 Sep 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Cross-boundary talent flows within the Hetao innovation hub will be launched by June next year at the latest, Hong Kong’s technology minister has said, after the city’s leader pledged to enable the free movement of data by the end of 2026. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong revealed the deadline while also discussing how semiconductor production, which is due to begin at the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute (MRDI) this year, could... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368934/hong-kong-tech-chief-sets-june-deadline-hetao-cross-border-talent-flow https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368934/hong-kong-tech-chief-sets-june-deadline-hetao-cross-border-talent-flow Sun, 27 Sep 2026 06:58:17 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong will fast-track key Northern Metropolis roads, bringing forward the San Tin highway section to 2034 and targeting 2033 for the Tsing Lung Bridge, but a transport expert and lawmaker have cautioned that the first arrivals could still end up stranded. Infrastructure projects could lag behind developments such as the Hung Shui Kiu University Town, they said, suggesting the government launch express bus routes and build the Central Rail Link as soon as possible to ensure connectivity. A... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3368850/hong-kong-fast-tracking-northern-metropolis-links-will-they-be-ready-time https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3368850/hong-kong-fast-tracking-northern-metropolis-links-will-they-be-ready-time Sat, 26 Sep 2026 04:00:14 +0000 Letters Letters Hong Kong’s first five-year plan contains welcome targets for energy, carbon emissions, air pollution and water quality. Yet when it turns to the Northern Metropolis – the city’s main platform for innovation and new industrialisation – green development largely disappears as an organising principle. That separation could prove costly. The Northern Metropolis is a rare chance to design a new urban and industrial system from the ground up. Decisions now about its buildings, power supply, transport... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3368591/make-northern-metropolis-hong-kongs-zero-carbon-test-bed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3368591/make-northern-metropolis-hong-kongs-zero-carbon-test-bed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 03:30:07 +0000 Huang Qingchen Huang Qingchen Hong Kong’s first five-year plan marks an unprecedented milestone not only for its economic and social development, but also for how it governs itself. The plan, which drew on 16,000 public submissions – roughly 80 per cent from ordinary citizens – is a testament to the government’s commitment to long-term development, which shows an unusual convergence of public consensus and political will. For a city long accustomed to letting the market hold the reins, crafting a road map clear in aims,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368386/how-hong-kong-remapping-future-higher-education https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368386/how-hong-kong-remapping-future-higher-education Fri, 25 Sep 2026 01:30:15 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s university town project is transforming from an ambitious vision into a concrete and deliverable action plan. With applications now open for campuses in Hung Shui Kiu, the government has set out the land, financing framework, timetable and strategic purpose of the first of three university towns. The challenge is to ensure that this flagship project becomes a showpiece of the Northern Metropolis mega development, paving the way for the mission to turn Hong Kong into a global... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3368669/universities-must-rise-northern-metropolis-challenge https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3368669/universities-must-rise-northern-metropolis-challenge Thu, 24 Sep 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Michael Jinghan Zeng Michael Jinghan Zeng Hong Kong’s first five-year plan gives its universities an opportunity to show what their research can do for the city. Its ambitions for technology, regional development and international cooperation depend on decisions about institutions and people’s lives. Social scientists should help shape those decisions from the outset. The blueprint explicitly addresses public governance, including civil service performance, departmental coordination and digital administration. It also provides for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368356/hong-kong-needs-social-science-help-deliver-its-5-year-plan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368356/hong-kong-needs-social-science-help-deliver-its-5-year-plan Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:30:06 +0000 Christine Loh Christine Loh Hong Kong deserves credit for its first five-year plan, accompanied by a detailed policy address. The plan establishes a useful framework beyond the annual policy cycle. Precisely because this is an important first effort, it is worth asking what could make the framework even stronger. One striking omission is that the five-year plan never explicitly mentions climate change. This does not mean Hong Kong is failing to act. On the contrary, the plan and policy address contain many measures dealing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368261/hong-kong-lacks-climate-narrative-unify-its-efforts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368261/hong-kong-lacks-climate-narrative-unify-its-efforts Tue, 22 Sep 2026 08:30:05 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Representatives of foreign business chambers who met Hong Kong’s leader have said the five-year plan provided clear policy priorities for companies’ strategic planning, but called for more concrete timelines and visible progress on the Northern Metropolis project to attract investment. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu held a briefing on Monday for consuls general and heads of foreign chambers of commerce, during which he stressed that Hong Kong’s five-year plan was not a planned economy. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368284/foreign-chambers-back-hong-kong-5-year-plan-urge-progress-northern-metropolis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368284/foreign-chambers-back-hong-kong-5-year-plan-urge-progress-northern-metropolis Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:05:09 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong authorities should shoulder a larger share of the cost of facilities jointly used by institutions at the Northern Metropolis university towns, a varsity president has said, while calling for dedicated research funding to encourage collaboration among campuses. Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, president of the private Saint Francis University, said that while individual institutions could finance the construction of their own campuses, the government should contribute more towards... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3368146/university-calls-government-funds-shared-sites-northern-metropolis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3368146/university-calls-government-funds-shared-sites-northern-metropolis Sun, 20 Sep 2026 07:29:13 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. With education designated as a growth engine in Hong Kong’s new development blueprint, the planned Northern Metropolis university town faces a pivotal moment. Artificial intelligence (AI) is dismantling the foundations of traditional learning. Simply expanding science,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3367844/northern-metropolis-can-offer-clean-slate-educational-innovation https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3367844/northern-metropolis-can-offer-clean-slate-educational-innovation Fri, 18 Sep 2026 03:30:05 +0000 SCMP Plus SCMP Plus Download the PDF This is the second part of a Factsheet series on Hong Kong’s debut five-year plan and the 2026 policy address. Click here for part one. The series was produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This Factsheet will be available in the SCMP print edition on September 21. You can find it at newsstands and convenience stores. For any inquiries, contact printsupport@scmp.com. https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3367925/story-begins https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3367925/story-begins Fri, 18 Sep 2026 02:00:24 +0000 SCMP Plus SCMP Plus Download the PDF This is the first part of a Factsheet series on Hong Kong’s debut five-year plan and the 2026 policy address. Click here for part two. The series was produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This Factsheet will be available in the SCMP print edition on September 21. You can find it at newsstands and convenience stores. For any inquiries, contact printsupport@scmp.com. https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3367923/hong-kongs-new-chapter https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3367923/hong-kongs-new-chapter Fri, 18 Sep 2026 02:00:18 +0000 Chow Chung-yan Chow Chung-yan At the heart of Hong Kong’s first five-year plan lies the Northern Metropolis – a massive tract of land spanning roughly a third of our entire city. Much ink has been spilled over what this project represents and why it matters, but if I had to summarise it in a single sentence, I would call it the “Shenzhen of Hong Kong”. To me, Shenzhen stands as the most miraculous growth story on Earth. Forty-eight years ago, it was a sleepy fishing village with a single muddy main road and just tens of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3367836/shenzhen-northern-metropolis-animated-spirit-experimentation https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3367836/shenzhen-northern-metropolis-animated-spirit-experimentation Fri, 18 Sep 2026 01:30:05 +0000 SCMP SCMP This is the second part of a Factsheet series on Hong Kong’s debut five-year plan and the 2026 policy address. Click here for part one. The series was produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This Factsheet will be available in the SCMP print edition on September 21. You can find it at newsstands and convenience stores. For any inquiries, contact printsupport@scmp.com. https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367918/story-begins https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367918/story-begins Fri, 18 Sep 2026 01:01:09 +0000 SCMP SCMP This is the first part of a Factsheet series on Hong Kong’s debut five-year plan and the 2026 policy address. Click here for part two. The series was produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This Factsheet will be available in the SCMP print edition on September 21. You can find it at newsstands and convenience stores. For any inquiries, contact printsupport@scmp.com. https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3367919/hong-kongs-new-chapter https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3367919/hong-kongs-new-chapter Fri, 18 Sep 2026 01:00:05 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Around 100 start-ups selected to join Hong Kong’s flagship border tech hub will undergo mentorship programmes ranging from five to eight years, backed by industry heavyweights, the operator has revealed. Vincent Ma, CEO of Loop Hong Kong Park Company, said in an interview on Thursday that the start-ups were chosen to join the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP) following a months-long screening process. “We have chosen 100 start-ups to enter our park soon following a few... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367903/100-start-ups-joining-hong-kongs-flagship-tech-hub-get-top-mentors https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367903/100-start-ups-joining-hong-kongs-flagship-tech-hub-get-top-mentors Thu, 17 Sep 2026 14:39:54 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Tertiary institutions seeking to establish campuses in one of three university towns planned for the Northern Metropolis megaproject will be given “favourable consideration” if they do not require a government loan to build their facilities, Hong Kong’s education minister has said. The government has expanded all three university towns – formally named in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s annual policy address on Wednesday – and opened applications for interested institutions to submit their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3367902/self-funded-campuses-favoured-hong-kongs-new-university-towns https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3367902/self-funded-campuses-favoured-hong-kongs-new-university-towns Thu, 17 Sep 2026 14:25:55 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang Longer-term vision and policies with continuity mapped out in Hong Kong’s inaugural five-year plan, along with the latest policy blueprint, offer investment opportunities and greater stability for investors, according to experts and commentators. Hong Kong marked a historic milestone on Wednesday when Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu rolled out the city’s first five-year development plan with his fifth policy address to align with China’s long-term national strategy. The explicit directions Lee... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367773/hong-kongs-5-year-plan-policy-continuity-offer-investors-more-stability-experts-say https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367773/hong-kongs-5-year-plan-policy-continuity-offer-investors-more-stability-experts-say Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:30:05 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Hong Kong’s leader has unveiled the city’s first five-year blueprint, aligned with China’s national development strategy, setting targets to nearly double innovation spending and raise the share of manufacturing and new industries to 5.5 per cent of the economy. In a historically significant new approach, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu prefaced his annual policy address on Wednesday with a comprehensive set of binding and anticipatory or aspirational longer-term targets for Hong Kong up to the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367768/hong-kong-sets-5-year-plan-double-innovation-spending-boost-new-industries https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367768/hong-kong-sets-5-year-plan-double-innovation-spending-boost-new-industries Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:23:47 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The first building in the 1,000-hectare (2,472-acre) university town project in the Northern Metropolis will be completed by the end of this year, Hong Kong’s leader has said, revealing that the flagship tower is called Loop Academy One. Announcing Hong Kong’s first five-year plan on Wednesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also revealed the official names of the three Northern Metropolis developments: San Tin University Town, Hung Shui Kiu University Town and Ta Kwu Ling University Town. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3367760/first-building-hong-kongs-university-town-project-be-ready-months https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3367760/first-building-hong-kongs-university-town-project-be-ready-months Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:56:19 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au About 10 artificial intelligence (AI) and biotech companies will be the first to access cross-border data flows under a new pilot scheme, securing an early edge over roughly 100 other firms set up in Hong Kong’s flagship tech hub at the border. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu revealed on Wednesday during the final policy address of his current term that more than 100 innovation and technology firms had moved into the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, while a “white list” to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367756/10-ai-biotech-firms-northern-metropolis-get-early-cross-border-data-access https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367756/10-ai-biotech-firms-northern-metropolis-get-early-cross-border-data-access Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:31:25 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has placed deepening integration with mainland China and developing new economic engines centre stage as he unveiled the city’s first-ever five-year plan alongside the last policy address of his term. During his landmark speech on Wednesday, which ran just one minute shy of three hours, Lee laid out how the city’s first five-year plan would align the city more closely with the national development blueprint, while the policy address would serve as the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3367706/14-key-takeaways-john-lees-policy-address-hong-kongs-first-5-year-plan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3367706/14-key-takeaways-john-lees-policy-address-hong-kongs-first-5-year-plan Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:37:58 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu presented the city’s first ever five-year plan, including steps to bolster innovation, birth rates and financial activity. The city aims to raise spending on innovation to 3 per cent of gross domestic product after 2030 from 1.63 per cent in 2024, Lee said as he announced the plan on Wednesday alongside the traditional annual policy address. There were also steps to accelerate construction of the tech-focused Northern Metropolis megaproject on the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3367711/hong-kongs-first-five-year-plan-seeks-boost-innovation https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3367711/hong-kongs-first-five-year-plan-seeks-boost-innovation Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:24:01 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has said Hong Kong’s first five-year plan will preserve capitalism while creating jobs and opportunities for social mobility (“Hong Kong 5-year plan to stick with capitalism, uphold ‘one country, two systems’: John Lee”, September 14). The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3367540/how-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-should-be-judged https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3367540/how-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-should-be-judged Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:20 +0000 Olga Wong,Jeffie Lam,Matthew Cheng Olga Wong,Jeffie Lam,Matthew Cheng Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu’s coming policy address will introduce measures to remove hurdles for businesses setting up shop in the Northern Metropolis and include proactive initiatives to strengthen innovation hubs, research efforts and tech applications, the South China Morning Post has learned. Government sources said measures supporting the megaproject in the northern New Territories and backing innovation were expected to be major highlights of the chief executive’s policy address on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3367502/hong-kongs-next-policy-address-just-around-corner-heres-what-expect https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3367502/hong-kongs-next-policy-address-just-around-corner-heres-what-expect Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:30:05 +0000 John Lee Ka-chiu John Lee Ka-chiu This year marks the opening year of the national 15th five-year plan. Faced with accelerating change globally and significant opportunities brought by national development, Hong Kong must better integrate into and serve the overall national development, enabling our economic progress to reach new heights while enhancing people’s livelihood and well-being. This February, I announced that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government would formulate the city’s first five-year plan. I led... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3367335/how-five-year-plan-can-serve-nation-and-deliver-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3367335/how-five-year-plan-can-serve-nation-and-deliver-hong-kong Mon, 14 Sep 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Natalie Wong Matthew Cheng,Natalie Wong In the final instalment of our series of previews on the five-year plan and policy address, to be announced on September 16, Natalie Wong and Matthew Cheng look at how national security spans areas such as finance and technology and what Hong Kong must do to earn Beijing’s trust. Read part one here, part two here, part three here and part four here. With the recent sentencing of former leaders of Hong Kong’s Tiananmen Square vigil concluding a key high-profile subversion case, it would be easy... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3367367/beijings-trust-issue-hong-kong-and-what-city-can-promise-its-5-year-plan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3367367/beijings-trust-issue-hong-kong-and-what-city-can-promise-its-5-year-plan Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:30:12 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Vivian Au Elizabeth Cheung,Vivian Au In the second of our series of previews on the five-year plan and policy address, to be announced on September 16, Elizabeth Cheung and Vivian Au drill down on what’s holding back the Northern Metropolis. Read part one here. For employees of surgical robotics company Yuanhua Tech, travelling between their Shenzhen base in Nanshan district and its Hong Kong office in the Science Park means a two-hour commute. And when the hi-tech firm sends money to Hong Kong for operations, the process can take... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367105/can-john-lee-untie-4-knots-choking-tech-loop-northern-metropolis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367105/can-john-lee-untie-4-knots-choking-tech-loop-northern-metropolis Fri, 11 Sep 2026 02:30:09 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Deep in the southern border zone of Johor, Malaysia, separated from Singapore by a narrow strait, a steady flow of commuters moves seamlessly between the two sovereign neighbours. Beyond the immediate checkpoints, a short 30-minute train ride connects visitors to regional hubs such as Kulai, where a vastly different dynamic comes into view – one defined by the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure. Inside YTL’s sprawling Green Data Centre Park, massive operational blocks stand beside... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367104/whats-northern-metropolis-project-doing-malaysia-lessons-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367104/whats-northern-metropolis-project-doing-malaysia-lessons-hong-kong Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:30:06 +0000 Natalie Wong,Matthew Cheng Natalie Wong,Matthew Cheng In the first of our series of previews on the five-year plan and policy address, to be announced on September 16, Natalie Wong and Matthew Cheng look at the key political issues and the city leader’s hopes for a second term. When Hong Kong’s leader John Lee Ka-chiu steps up to the Legislative Council podium next Wednesday, he will break from decades of political tradition. Lee’s coming policy address will summarise his four years in office while setting out what is expected to be his most... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3366967/softer-focus-national-security-hong-kongs-5-year-plan-why-it-wont-happen https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3366967/softer-focus-national-security-hong-kongs-5-year-plan-why-it-wont-happen Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:30:05 +0000 Jane Lee Jane Lee What kind of population is Hong Kong planning for? That is the question the chief executive’s policy address must tackle as the Northern Metropolis begins to take shape. 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... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3366785/hong-kong-must-plan-population-it-wants-have https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3366785/hong-kong-must-plan-population-it-wants-have Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:30:05 +0000 Simpson Cheung Simpson Cheung Hong Kong’s leader has urged the banking sector to support financing the city’s creation of a new economic engine in innovation and technology (I&T) while expanding offshore yuan business, a key area for aligning with national strategies. Speaking at a Hong Kong Association of Banks event on Friday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu called for closer partnership between the government and banking sector in four areas. They are: expanding offshore renminbi business; encouraging I&T through... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3366350/john-lee-urges-banks-finance-citys-tech-growth-expand-offshore-yuan-business https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3366350/john-lee-urges-banks-finance-citys-tech-growth-expand-offshore-yuan-business Fri, 04 Sep 2026 07:15:45 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong’s flagship technology hub at the border received a better-than-expected six bids from conglomerates and hi-tech firms for its inaugural land tender by the deadline on Monday, with industry leaders describing the project as a springboard for mainland Chinese firms going global. The Loop Hong Kong Park Company, which operates the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP), said it received strong interest in four land parcels with a combined gross floor area exceeding... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3365865/land-tender-flagship-northern-metropolis-tech-hub-draws-6-bids https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3365865/land-tender-flagship-northern-metropolis-tech-hub-draws-6-bids Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:31:15 +0000