https://www.scmp.com/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.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong’s railway operator has deployed augmented reality (AR) technology to speed up construction of a station on a new link serving the Northern Metropolis megaproject to ensure it opens on time next year. The MTR Corporation said on Tuesday that the power supply had been connected at Kwu Tung station and AR technology had been adopted to hasten progress. “Applying the AR inspection system will allow us to simulate future scenarios and help workers carry out the assembly work accurately and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3351747/mtr-corporation-using-ar-technology-fast-track-work-northern-link-station?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3351747/mtr-corporation-using-ar-technology-fast-track-work-northern-link-station?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:10:39 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft The eastern section of Hong Kong’s new Fanling Bypass will be commissioned on May 3, marking the first major transport infrastructure project to be completed under the Northern Metropolis mega development. The new bypass promises to cut travel times by 10 minutes and will serve as a vital roadway for the Fanling North New Development Area. The South China Morning Post unpacks what the new bypass is and its significance. 1. What is the new bypass? The Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section) is a new 4km... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3351476/first-section-fanling-bypass-open-soon-so-how-will-hongkongers-benefit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3351476/first-section-fanling-bypass-open-soon-so-how-will-hongkongers-benefit?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:34:48 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Hong Kong’s technology cooperation with Shenzhen received a boost on Wednesday as Lenovo Group, the world’s biggest personal computer maker, set up an innovation lab at the city’s new Hetao tech hub and pledged to help firms adopt artificial intelligence and expand globally. Lenovo is the first multinational tech firm to publicly announce its presence on the Hong Kong side of the Hetao zone – the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP) – which covers 87 hectares in the city’s... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351020/hong-kong-shenzhen-tech-cooperation-gets-boost-lenovo-ai-lab-hetao-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351020/hong-kong-shenzhen-tech-cooperation-gets-boost-lenovo-ai-lab-hetao-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) announced on Wednesday the joint establishment of the Northern Metropolis Financial Advisory Taskforce, which will explore financing solutions for the development of the city’s flagship project. The Northern Metropolis, a megaproject designed to bolster Hong Kong’s economic base and advance its integration with the Greater Bay Area, will transform 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) of land near the city’s border... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3351034/hkma-and-hkab-launch-task-force-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-financing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3351034/hkma-and-hkab-launch-task-force-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-financing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:52:46 +0000 Zhu Wenqian,Cheryl Arcibal Zhu Wenqian,Cheryl Arcibal A consortium led by Sino Land, alongside state-backed mainland developers China Overseas Land & Investment and China Merchants Land, has won a tender for the Kam Sheung Road Station Phase Two development, signalling continued confidence in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis and its long-term growth prospects, particularly among mainland developers. The group – which also includes Great Eagle Holdings – plans to invest more than HK$13 billion (US$1.7 billion) to build high-quality residential... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3350904/sino-land-led-consortium-clinches-kam-sheung-road-phase-two-us17-billion-investment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3350904/sino-land-led-consortium-clinches-kam-sheung-road-phase-two-us17-billion-investment?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:30:30 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation said on Monday that it had received eight bids for a commercial and residential development at one of the critical hubs in the Northern Metropolis, a large-scale project that aims to bolster the city’s economic base and foster closer integration with the Greater Bay Area. The number of bids for the Kam Sheung Road Station Phase Two property development exceeded expectations, indicating developers’ interest in the Northern Metropolis project, according to analysts. The... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350761/hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-gains-momentum-key-project-attracts-8-bids?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350761/hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-gains-momentum-key-project-attracts-8-bids?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:00:05 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Hong Kong’s government is under mounting pressure to deliver the Northern Metropolis, announced in 2021, as it approaches the end of its term – less than 15 months and counting. The megaproject, to turn 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) near the border with mainland China into a centre of international innovation and technology, is to be an engine to drive the city’s economic growth and housing – and the gem of its economic integration with the mainland. We are pressed for time. Beijing has long... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350491/why-northern-metropolis-needs-more-one-big-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350491/why-northern-metropolis-needs-more-one-big-push?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong should take a more proactive approach to removing barriers hindering the cross-border flow of people, capital, goods and data with neighbouring Shenzhen, analysts have said, as the new leadership of the mainland China tech hub signals a fresh push for deeper integration. The calls for action followed the appointment of Jin Lei, an economist and former official in Sichuan province, as Shenzhen’s Communist Party chief last month, succeeding Meng Fanli, who has since been named the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350627/hong-kong-urged-be-more-proactive-removing-barriers-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350627/hong-kong-urged-be-more-proactive-removing-barriers-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:13:39 +0000 Regina Ip Regina Ip For the first time in its history – and in a striking departure from its long-standing doctrine of minimal economic intervention – Hong Kong is preparing to draw up a five-year plan. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has asked all policy bureaus to help draft proposals by the end of the year. To lead the exercise, veteran civil servant Janice Tse Siu-wah has come out of retirement. The Legislative Council, not to be left out, has formed a committee supported by six coordinating groups spanning... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350403/how-markets-will-test-hong-kongs-new-economic-model?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350403/how-markets-will-test-hong-kongs-new-economic-model?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Travelling from Hong Kong’s commercial heart to the site of the San Tin Technopole, a planned innovation hub under the Northern Metropolis megaproject, is an exercise in endurance. The roughly two-hour trek from Causeway Bay requires taking trains on two lines, navigating two transit interchanges and catching a ride on a public minibus. Upon arrival, visitors are not greeted by gleaming skyscrapers or shopping centres, but by a quiet patchwork of fish ponds, villages, scattered squatter homes... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350210/are-special-laws-quick-fix-speeding-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350210/are-special-laws-quick-fix-speeding-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:26 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng A proposed increase in the Hong Kong government’s borrowing cap for its bond programmes to HK$900 billion (US$115 billion) will be sufficient to finance infrastructure projects over the next three years, officials have said, while leaving the door open to further rises in the long run if needed. Andrew Lai Chi-wah, permanent secretary for financial services and the treasury, made the remarks on Thursday during a Legislative Council subcommittee meeting scrutinising the plan to lift the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349561/hong-kong-seeks-raise-bond-issuance-ceiling-hk900-billion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349561/hong-kong-seeks-raise-bond-issuance-ceiling-hk900-billion?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:22:46 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong authorities will set up a company this year to accelerate the development of an innovation hub near the border, with firms already expressing interest in moving into the San Tin Technopole, a senior tech official has said. Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Kevin Choi Kit-ming also told the South China Morning Post that some companies might soon be able to transfer data and biological samples across the border once tailor-made measures were introduced later... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349306/hong-kong-set-company-year-fast-track-san-tin-tech-hub-firms-eye-move?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349306/hong-kong-set-company-year-fast-track-san-tin-tech-hub-firms-eye-move?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 02:00:21 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A world-class fencing hall and stand-alone swimming pool complex will be built in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis megaproject, authorities have revealed, with experts saying the facilities must be supported by good transport links and services for elite athletes. Sports industry experts shared their views on Tuesday after the Leisure and Cultural Services Department revised its plans to instead build the swimming pool as a stand-alone facility to meet international specifications, while... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349230/separate-fencing-hall-and-pool-revised-northern-metropolis-sports-facilities-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349230/separate-fencing-hall-and-pool-revised-northern-metropolis-sports-facilities-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:55:05 +0000 Ningrong Liu Ningrong Liu Hong Kong’s first five-year plan is expected to guide the city’s future development. Never before has the city attempted a comprehensive plan in the style of mainland China, signalling a major shift in how it approaches long‑term growth. The real question is not why a laissez‑faire economy must adopt a new model but how this transformation will unfold. This exercise is unprecedented on multiple fronts. First, it departs from Hong Kong’s long-standing reliance on market forces and incremental... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348085/how-china-transforming-hong-kong-strategic-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348085/how-china-transforming-hong-kong-strategic-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s No 2 official has pledged to fast-track a new university town’s development following a visit to similar projects in mainland China, saying authorities will devise a strategy to attract top institutions from across the border and overseas to take part. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki and his working group on the university town’s planning and construction, which falls under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, concluded their three-day visit to the mainland... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348906/university-town-be-fast-tracked-eric-chan-says-after-mainland-china-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348906/university-town-be-fast-tracked-eric-chan-says-after-mainland-china-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 05:55:23 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu Hong Kong is preparing its own medium-term development blueprint alongside China’s coming 15th five-year plan, which officials have described as a “golden strategic period” for the city. This is more than a procedural shift. For the first time, Hong Kong is attempting to align its policy cycle in advance with national planning priorities, yet alignment on its own is not a strategy. The more pressing question is whether the city can define a role that is distinct, necessary and difficult to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348403/hong-kongs-next-five-years-must-take-city-alignment-action?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348403/hong-kongs-next-five-years-must-take-city-alignment-action?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A planned supercomputing hub in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis could overtake the MTR Corporation rail operator as the city’s single largest electricity consumer, prompting a green group and experts to call for setting energy efficiency standards to limit the sector’s carbon emissions. According to The Green Earth’s estimates, the new project – set to begin operating in 2029 – could increase the industry’s annual carbon emissions by about 70 per cent compared with current levels. Experts have... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348294/northern-metropolis-data-hub-may-surpass-mtr-corp-hong-kongs-top-power-consumer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348294/northern-metropolis-data-hub-may-surpass-mtr-corp-hong-kongs-top-power-consumer?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Dedicated laws to streamline statutory procedures for Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis may speed up some projects by about one year, the development chief has said. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho also revealed on Sunday that the government was preparing to increase the residential component of some sites to make the investment more appealing for developers. The government unveiled a plan for proposed legislation earlier this month, comprising six main subsidiary laws designed to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348288/dedicated-northern-metropolis-laws-may-speed-projects-1-year-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348288/dedicated-northern-metropolis-laws-may-speed-projects-1-year-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:36:34 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Construction has begun on a major data centre in the Northern Metropolis, with Hong Kong’s innovation and technology minister saying the project will supercharge the city’s computing power and drive the national artificial intelligence (AI) push. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Saturday at the Range (Hong Kong) Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster, which spans more than 110,000 square metres. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said the project marked a leap forward in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348246/hong-kong-breaks-ground-northern-metropolis-data-centre-power-ai-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348246/hong-kong-breaks-ground-northern-metropolis-data-centre-power-ai-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:04:10 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Singapore will explore opportunities arising from Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis megaproject and its coming five-year development plan, the city state’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has said, stressing that relations between the two sides are “more important than ever” in a fragmenting world. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Friday that Wong’s visit – his first official trip to Hong Kong since becoming prime minister in 2024 – was indicative of the strong ties and friendship between the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348166/singapore-explore-opportunities-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-lawrence-wong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348166/singapore-explore-opportunities-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-lawrence-wong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:01:07 +0000 Kevin Li Kevin Li In the summer of 1998, the usually placid air at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s headquarters in Citibank Tower suddenly evaporated as regional currencies collapsed like dominoes. Rapacious speculators had shorted currencies such as the Thai baht, the Indonesian rupiah and the Korean won and had profited handsomely. The contagion looked like it would also bring the Hong Kong dollar to its knees. As storytellers from the era have recalled, that sweltering month of August, the wolves were at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348050/should-hong-kong-be-using-war-chest-firepower-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348050/should-hong-kong-be-using-war-chest-firepower-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:30:07 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong’s legislature will retain the power to scrutinise boundary changes for the Northern Metropolis megaproject proposed by the executive branch, the city’s development chief has said, addressing concerns over proposed laws to fast-track the scheme. Under proposed legislation comprising six main subsidiary laws designed to remove bottlenecks in the massive scheme near the border with mainland China, the city’s leader and the Executive Council will be empowered to adjust its boundaries,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347760/northern-metropolis-boundary-changes-will-need-legco-approval-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347760/northern-metropolis-boundary-changes-will-need-legco-approval-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:19:01 +0000 Danny Mok,Natalie Wong Danny Mok,Natalie Wong Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will arrive in Hong Kong on Thursday for a three-day visit, meeting the city’s leader, politicians and businesspeople, and will also examine key sites in the Northern Metropolis megaproject to explore collaboration opportunities. It will be Wong’s first working visit to Hong Kong since he assumed office as Singapore’s fourth prime minister in May 2024. The visit will follow Wong’s attendance at the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in Hainan province,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3347743/singapores-lawrence-wong-visit-hong-kong-after-boao-forum-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3347743/singapores-lawrence-wong-visit-hong-kong-after-boao-forum-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:54:37 +0000 Chiu Kam-kuen Chiu Kam-kuen In October last year, Singapore’s three-day Formula One (F1) Grand Prix showcased the tremendous economic impact that world-class sporting events can bring to a city. The event attracted more than 300,000 attendees, the second highest in its history. Since Singapore began hosting F1, the races have drawn more than 720,000 international visitors and generated about S$2.2 billion (US$1.7 billion) in tourism revenue, underscoring their significant contribution to the local tourism industry. In... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346980/f1-could-be-hong-kongs-fast-lane-economic-reinvention?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346980/f1-could-be-hong-kongs-fast-lane-economic-reinvention?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 21:30:09 +0000 William Yiu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen William Yiu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s Baptist University placed a big bet when it told the government in 2023 that it was interested in moving its campus from the upmarket Kowloon Tong residential area to a proposed new academic town near the mainland Chinese border. The 70-year-old university’s move to the Northern Metropolis megaproject will mean giving up a prime site for a spot where most of the land has yet to be prepared for construction, although its proximity to mainland tech hub Shenzhen and the Lok Ma Chau... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347197/too-slow-hong-kongs-new-university-town-faces-questions-over-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347197/too-slow-hong-kongs-new-university-town-faces-questions-over-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:30:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Breaking down barriers to expedite the Northern Metropolis project has become an overriding priority of the Hong Kong government, and tailor-made legislation to do just that is now on the way. This is a right step forward. Hong Kong must ensure the new laws serve the need for both speed and standards – clearing obstacles that have been holding back the city from efficient progress without sacrificing the necessary safeguards for standards and quality. Comprising six main subsidiary laws designed... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347141/special-laws-can-help-northern-metropolis-pick-pace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347141/special-laws-can-help-northern-metropolis-pick-pace?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 23:15:14 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong is ready to discuss land, tax incentives and financial support for businesses setting up in the Northern Metropolis, the finance chief has told a trade seminar in Beijing, stressing a “flexible and innovative” approach will be taken with developing the megaproject. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Thursday also met Xia Baolong, Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs, who underscored the central government’s support for the city’s efforts to bolster its competitiveness through... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347210/hong-kong-finance-chief-stresses-flexibility-pitch-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347210/hong-kong-finance-chief-stresses-flexibility-pitch-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:31:30 +0000 Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying Proposed designated laws to streamline land-use approval procedures for the Northern Metropolis megaproject will not undermine the authority of Hong Kong’s town planning body, some experts have argued, while urging the government to establish clear key performance indicators (KPIs) to strengthen market confidence. Observers were responding to a package of six subsidiary laws unveiled on Tuesday by the Development Bureau, designed to remove bottlenecks in the New Territories project. A key... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346939/northern-metropolis-land-use-laws-wont-undermine-boards-authority-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346939/northern-metropolis-land-use-laws-wont-undermine-boards-authority-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong authorities have proposed designated laws to streamline procedures for changing land use in the Northern Metropolis megaproject, cutting the process from typically nine months to just two. Unveiled by the Development Bureau on Tuesday, 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 the establishment of statutory firms and measures to speed up land resumption... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346930/measures-streamline-northern-metropolis-land-use-procedures-unveiled?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346930/measures-streamline-northern-metropolis-land-use-procedures-unveiled?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:38:49 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis megaproject near the border with mainland China will adopt laws to streamline land approval procedures from nine to two months in a move to speed up its development, the South China Morning Post has learned. Sources said that details of the dedicated legislation for the Northern Metropolis would be announced on Tuesday, with a major highlight being the shortening of land-use approval procedures. These measures align with the newly unveiled 15th national five-year... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346791/northern-metropolis-streamline-land-approval-process-9-2-months-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346791/northern-metropolis-streamline-land-approval-process-9-2-months-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:39:50 +0000 Kitty Tam,Calvin Au Kitty Tam,Calvin Au When people picture Hong Kong, they often imagine a relentless concrete jungle – a vertical city where glass and steel dominate the skyline. Yet a quiet revolution is beginning to reshape how our city develops. Last week, the Civil Engineering and Development Department and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department jointly launched the Hong Kong Nature-based Solutions Design Guidelines. This landmark document signals a shift in how we think about infrastructure and urban planning. It... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng A Hong Kong property tycoon has called for a more prudent approach to the city’s development rather than accelerating projects amid global uncertainties, saying the industry’s willingness to invest in the Northern Metropolis hinges on the health of the market. Far East Consortium chairman David Chiu Tat-cheong also described the megaproject’s new land disposal approach – which requires winning bidders to handle multiple developments on a large plot – as good intentions with unintended negative... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346140/hong-kong-tycoon-urges-prudent-approach-development-amid-global-uncertainty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346140/hong-kong-tycoon-urges-prudent-approach-development-amid-global-uncertainty?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 01:30:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong is well served by its two traditional medical schools. A third school taking shape at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will add an innovative dimension to healthcare as well as a welcome boost to the supply of doctors. An emphasis on biotechnology and research, and the school’s ultimate location in the Northern Metropolis, near the Shenzhen tech hub, will foster partnerships and collaboration with the rest of the Greater Bay Area. The first intake of 50 students at... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345719/medical-schools-biotech-focus-will-boost-hong-kongs-innovation-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345719/medical-schools-biotech-focus-will-boost-hong-kongs-innovation-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:45:14 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s financial chief has vowed to serve the nation and seize opportunities from the newly unveiled 15th five-year development plan, calling it a “golden strategic period” with great potential amid escalating geopolitics. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Sunday that Hong Kong would adopt “Artificial Intelligence+” and “Finance+” approaches to support mainland China’s development plan for 2026 to 2030. Beijing on Thursday revealed the sweeping blueprint during the annual “two... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345866/15th-five-year-plan-presents-golden-strategic-period-hong-kong-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345866/15th-five-year-plan-presents-golden-strategic-period-hong-kong-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 07:47:35 +0000 Regina Ip Regina Ip Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivered his latest budget on February 25. Over the past decade, under his stewardship, Hong Kong has weathered multiple economic shocks and recently returned to a respectable growth rate of 3.5 per cent. Yet the tasks ahead are formidable: addressing a structural fiscal deficit in the city’s capital account while ensuring sufficient resources for future growth, all against an increasingly volatile and dangerous global backdrop. Article 107 of Hong Kong’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3345682/paul-chan-must-deliver-fiscal-discipline-hong-kong-needs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3345682/paul-chan-must-deliver-fiscal-discipline-hong-kong-needs?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 21:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Shenzhen is one of Asia’s top tech hubs, while Hong Kong has long been a financial powerhouse. Together, they are two souls merging into a turbocharged engine of growth behind the Greater Bay Area. The government’s flagship project, the Northern Metropolis, will soon become a focal point of this unbeatable combination. At its heart will be a supercomputing facility to help the city become a data centre hub. Range Intelligent Computing Technology won the tender to build the supercomputing centre... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345691/supercomputer-hub-brings-hong-kong-and-shenzhen-closer-together?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345691/supercomputer-hub-brings-hong-kong-and-shenzhen-closer-together?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Chinese Premier Li Qiang revealed in his work report to the annual session of the National People’s Congress a growth target of 4.5-5 per cent, compared with around 5 per cent for 2025. It will have to stay around that level for 10 years to achieve Beijing’s goal of turning China into a moderately developed country by 2035. The target, for the first year of the 15th five-year plan (2026-2030), has been set at a relatively moderate and realistic range to reflect the reality that externally, China... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345623/amid-external-uncertainties-china-steers-growth-and-stability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345623/amid-external-uncertainties-china-steers-growth-and-stability?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 23:15:13 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong Baptist University is “actively considering” issuing bonds to finance its future development, including campus redevelopment and its new Chinese medicine hospital, according to its president. But Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong also told the South China Morning Post on Thursday that the public institution would be cautious with bond issuance to avoid creating pressure on future management. “Our university needs funding in many aspects, such as our Chinese medicine hospital and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345579/hong-kong-baptist-university-may-issue-bonds-finance-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345579/hong-kong-baptist-university-may-issue-bonds-finance-development?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:07:34 +0000 Edith Lin,Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Edith Lin,Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong should enhance its role as an international financial hub by strengthening its offshore renminbi business and supply chain services, and speed up the Northern Metropolis megaproject, according to the nation’s next five-year plan. Beijing set out its expectations for the city in a draft of its 15th five-year plan, submitted on Thursday to the National People’s Congress, the country’s legislature. The plan outlines China’s economic and social development targets for 2026 to 2030. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345521/beijing-tasks-hong-kong-fast-tracking-northern-metropolis-boosting-integration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345521/beijing-tasks-hong-kong-fast-tracking-northern-metropolis-boosting-integration?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:23:52 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing,Emily Hung Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing,Emily Hung Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has urged the city to focus on development amid heightening geopolitical tensions and to cherish its hard-earned stability, according to local delegates visiting the capital for the annual “two sessions” political gatherings. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), also said on Tuesday that the city enjoyed “favourable timing, advantageous location and unity of the people” in pursuing development, while calling for work on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345243/starry-lee-propose-boosting-hong-kongs-role-offshore-yuan-hub-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345243/starry-lee-propose-boosting-hong-kongs-role-offshore-yuan-hub-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 06:41:24 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu About 20 per cent of the 50 places in the inaugural intake of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s (HKUST) new graduate medical school in 2028-29 may be reserved for non-local students, with most expected to come from mainland China, according to the institution. Applicants for the four-year graduate entry-level medicine programme must pass an international admission test, with the university preferring those with a background in biotechnology. According to HKUST, the tuition fee... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345170/hkust-may-reserve-20-new-medical-school-inaugural-intake-non-locals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345170/hkust-may-reserve-20-new-medical-school-inaugural-intake-non-locals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:33:23 +0000 Emily Hung,Fiona Chow Emily Hung,Fiona Chow A “relatively flexible” legal framework for Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis will be introduced to the Legislative Council later this month to fast-track the megaproject’s development, a minister has said. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho shared the update on the planned framework on Sunday, days after the city’s latest budget sought to allocate HK$30 billion (US$3.8 billion) for the megaproject set to span 30,000 hectares (74,130 acres) in the New Territories. Authorities will... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345048/legal-framework-northern-metropolis-be-tabled-legco-late-march?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345048/legal-framework-northern-metropolis-be-tabled-legco-late-march?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 13:16:32 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong does not plan to make another transfer from its Exchange Fund in the next five years, the finance chief has said, citing a new medium-range forecast that explains why the rare move will not be repeated. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po elaborated on his plan on Saturday, after his budget announcement that he would withdraw HK$150 billion (US$19.2 billion) from the government’s main investment arm and de facto sovereign wealth fund sparked concerns about the city’s financial... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344962/no-exchange-fund-transfers-planned-next-5-years-hong-kongs-paul-chan-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344962/no-exchange-fund-transfers-planned-next-5-years-hong-kongs-paul-chan-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 05:49:01 +0000 Kenny Shui,Pascal Siu,Katie Ho Kenny Shui,Pascal Siu,Katie Ho Following a challenging cycle, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has delivered a budget returning Hong Kong to the black. After consecutive operating deficits, the operating account has returned to profit. Simultaneously, the consolidated account records a HK$2.9 billion (US$370.6 million) surplus for 2025/26, signalling stability. This turnaround is driven largely by a buoyant stock market and a stabilising property sector, reviving stamp duty revenues and investment income. This provides... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344819/after-celebrating-its-surplus-hong-kong-must-work-sustaining-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344819/after-celebrating-its-surplus-hong-kong-must-work-sustaining-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 01:30:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Exchange Fund has had a stellar investment year, and the government has returned to a consolidated budget surplus after several years in the red. With a revived economy, Hong Kong has recovered its financial mojo. Now is the time to go full steam ahead with Northern Metropolis, the megaproject that will significantly expand the city’s residential space and its business, financial and technological links with Shenzhen, the nation’s tech powerhouse. In a rare move, to help finance the massive... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344860/hong-kongs-economy-recovers-it-must-drive-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344860/hong-kongs-economy-recovers-it-must-drive-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 23:15:12 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong will offer nine residential sites to developers under the government’s land sale programme for the coming financial year, providing about 6,650 flats, after authorities said in the latest budget that the property market had stabilised. Combined with other land sources, such as urban redevelopment, private development and projects linked to railway properties, the potential supply of new flats is estimated to reach an eight-year high of about 22,580 in the 2026-27 financial year. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344926/hong-kong-land-sale-scheme-offer-9-residential-sites-developers-2026-27?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344926/hong-kong-land-sale-scheme-offer-9-residential-sites-developers-2026-27?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:40:30 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing A combination of a strong initial public offering (IPO) market and bond sales has helped put Hong Kong’s financial health back in the black sooner than expected, with analysts expecting a robust pipeline of listings to be key to sustaining the city’s surplus. In his budget speech on Wednesday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the city was previously expected to record a HK$67 billion deficit for the 2025-26 financial year, which ends on March 31, but emerged with an estimated HK$2.9... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344776/hong-kong-records-hk29-billion-consolidated-surplus-2025-26-heres-how?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344776/hong-kong-records-hk29-billion-consolidated-surplus-2025-26-heres-how?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:01:20 +0000 Edith Lin,Kevin Li Edith Lin,Kevin Li Hong Kong’s finance chief has defended his budget against public criticism over the lack of “sweeteners”, stressing the government must balance its finances with long-term investments for the city’s benefit. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said during a radio forum on Thursday he would brief credit-rating agencies and the International Monetary Fund next month on his budget, including a proposed HK$150 billion (US$19.2 billion) transfer from the Exchange Fund to support infrastructure... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344698/long-term-gains-worthwhile-paul-chan-says-hongkongers-slam-lack-budget-sweeteners?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344698/long-term-gains-worthwhile-paul-chan-says-hongkongers-slam-lack-budget-sweeteners?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:58:26 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Hong Kong government’s annual budget is always a delicate and difficult balancing act. From investing in the future and aligning with national development to caring for the disadvantaged and supporting the middle class, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has more room to juggle this year as the economy and public finances continue to improve. But the volatile economic and global environment means the city is not out of the woods yet. If the focus in previous budgets was on stimulating... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344630/budget-sets-hong-kong-its-next-phase-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344630/budget-sets-hong-kong-its-next-phase-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The Hong Kong government has produced a consolidated surplus earlier than expected, its first in four years, ahead of a rare transfer into coffers from the Exchange Fund and other sources. Wednesday’s budget pointed to fund transfers of HK$127.83 billion (US$16.35 billion) and an 11.1 per cent jump in government revenues contributing to another surplus for 2026-27, on top of the one for the 2025-26 financial year. “We will bring back about HK$15.8 billion from funds established outside the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344651/rare-move-take-income-out-exchange-fund-pay-northern-metropolis-other-big-projects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344651/rare-move-take-income-out-exchange-fund-pay-northern-metropolis-other-big-projects?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:12:55 +0000