Hong Kong’s landmark bill to fast-track Northern Metropolis nears passage

A bill designed to streamline the development of Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis is a step closer to passage, with final discussions set to take place in the Legislative Council on Wednesday before it could be passed as early as this week.

Lawmaker Priscilla Leung Mei-fun said on Monday that the relevant bills committee held 12 meetings and scrutinised the legislation for about 30 hours, noting the measure was unprecedented.

“This marks the first time in Hong Kong’s history that dedicated legislation is enacted for a single area,” Leung said.

The second reading of the Northern Metropolis Development Bill is expected to resume on Wednesday when lawmakers will have the last chance to raise questions or comment on the proposals.

The bill will then move to the third or final reading.

“The [bills] committee has asked the government to clearly explain to the public which areas are regulated by the dedicated Northern Metropolis legislation,” Leung said.

“We have also asked that the authorities provide a comprehensive document.”

Unveiled earlier by the Development Bureau, the proposed designated legislation comprises six main subsidiary laws designed to remove bottlenecks in the massive scheme near the border with mainland China.

They include establishing statutory firms and measures to speed up land resumption payments and the adoption of new building technologies.

However, the bill would not include provisions relating to tax incentives or the low-altitude economy, which is expected to be one of the areas to be developed in the Northern Metropolis.

Business groups across various sectors had earlier urged authorities to roll out targeted tax incentives in the area to attract investment.

Leung explained that the bill focused primarily on simplifying town planning and land administration procedures, meaning initiatives to attract investment did not fall within its scope.

The bureau is also seeking to simplify noise permit procedures, facilitate the cross-border flow of people and extend the validity period for temporary land use, according to a paper submitted to the Legco.

The Northern Metropolis megaproject, first announced in 2021, aims to turn 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) of land into an engine for economic growth and a housing hub. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has vowed to expedite its development, aligning with the nation’s recently unveiled 15th five-year plan.

Currently, developers must submit an application to the Town Planning Board, attend meetings and undergo consultations to change the land use specified in an outline zoning plan. The process usually takes around nine months.

A key proposal would remove a procedure for changing land use in non‑conservation areas of the metropolis, reducing review rounds by the board from two to one and shortening the timetable to around two months. Green belt land, country parks and areas of high ecological value will be excluded.

This is not the first effort to streamline planning processes. In 2023, the government reduced the duration of the city’s land formation process by as much as six years and cut a town-planning mechanism from 11 months to seven by consolidating three consultation rounds into one.

Authorities earlier said the proposed legislation would not include a sunset clause, as developing new industries in the Northern Metropolis would take time. They said it would be more meaningful to review the law once the project had reached a more mature stage.

The bill would also give the Executive Council the power to adjust the megaproject’s boundaries.