The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, convened the first working meeting of the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis today (September 29), focusing on discussing and guiding the future directions and strategies of the three working groups to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis. The three working groups will commence work as soon as possible and fully advance the accelerated development of Northern Metropolis according to the instructions given.
      
     Mr Lee stated at the meeting that the Northern Metropolis possesses unique geographical advantages, with its land area and planned population intake accounting for about one-third of Hong Kong's total. It serves as a new engine for Hong Kong's economic development, possessing enormous development potential and economic value. It will create many jobs, increase income and enhance Hong Kong's overall competitiveness. He emphasised that expediting the high-efficiency development of the Northern Metropolis is an urgent and strategic priority for Hong Kong's future development. The Government must spare no effort to seize development opportunities, advance Hong Kong's economy towards a new phase of high value-added growth and strong competitiveness.
      
     Mr Lee pointed out that over the past three years, the Government has formulated development plans as well as accelerated construction for the Northern Metropolis. The main purpose of establishing the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, personally led by him, is to elevate the decision-making level of Northern Metropolis development, streamline administrative procedures, remove barriers, break through bottlenecks, and adopt new thinking to achieve construction goals that are safe, cost-effective, and time-saving. The Committee also aims to enact dedicated legislation to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis.
      
     The 2025 Policy Address announced the establishment of the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, under which three working groups would be set up. The Committee seeks to strengthen supervision and promote the development of the Northern Metropolis at full steam, focusing on advancing dedicated legislation, facilitating industry and enterprise establishment, finalising development strategies for the Northern Metropolis University Town, and expediting the approval and implementation of land and construction projects. The Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis is chaired by the Chief Executive. The three working groups are the Working Group on Devising Development and Operation Models, led by the Financial Secretary, responsible for designing development and operation models tailored to the nature and scale of each designated development area in the Northern Metropolis; the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, which specialises in researching the development model for the Northern Metropolis University Town; and the Working Group on Planning and Development, led by the Deputy Financial Secretary, which is tasked with managing the whole process from planning to execution.
      
     Mr Lee also directed the three working groups to convene meetings and commence work as soon as possible, report detailed work plans to the Committee, and formulate plans for matters that can be advanced in the short term.

Ends/Monday, September 29, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:34

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