​The Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, and Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government Mr Huang Min, leading delegations of the governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Shenzhen respectively, held the first meeting of the Task Force for Collaboration on the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy in Shenzhen today (February 27). 
      
     The Northern Metropolis is a new foothold for Hong Kong's strategic development in the future. Under the Guangdong-Hong Kong and Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation mechanism, the HKSAR Government has set up the Task Force for Collaboration on the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy to strengthen liaison and co-ordination between Hong Kong and the Mainland on matters related to the Northern Metropolis, providing new impetus to the development of the Greater Bay Area.
      
     At the meeting today, the HKSAR Government provided a briefing on the progress in planning and implementing the Northern Metropolis, and the government of Shenzhen introduced the development plans in Shenzhen relevant to the Northern Metropolis. They exchanged views on various aspects related to the collaboration on the Northern Metropolis including cross-boundary transport, planning of control points, development of Qianhai, works at the Lok Ma Chau Loop and so on. Both sides agreed to strengthen co-operation, making full use of the synergy between the Northern Metropolis and the Greater Bay Area (especially Shenzhen) in such areas as industry development, land use and ecological conservation, and the opportunities arising therefrom.
      
     After the meeting, the delegation of the HKSAR Government visited the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone and received a briefing by the Authority of Qianhai of Shenzhen Municipality on the latest development of the area.
      
     Officials of the HKSAR Government attending the meeting today also included the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk; the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau; and the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, as well as the heads of relevant departments.

Ends/Monday, February 27, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:45

NNNN