https://www.scmp.com/rss/524435/feed The latest news and updates on Bernadette Linn Hon-ho, a seasoned Hong Kong government official with extensive experience in public administration. Currently serving as Secretary for Development since July 2022, she is responsible for planning, land development, and public works policy, including major infrastructure decisions like the Northern Metropolis megaproject. Her career, which began in 1989 as an Administrative Officer, includes roles as Permanent Secretary for Development, Director of... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Hong Kong authorities expect the eastern section of the HK$7 billion (US$893 million) Fanling Bypass, which opens to traffic on Sunday, will prevent congestion ahead of residents moving into a nearby new development area later this year. At the opening ceremony on Saturday, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said the 4km (2.49 miles) dual two-lane carriageway was completed just in time to support the Fanling North New Development Area, which is set to welcome its first public... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3352219/new-fanling-bypass-section-prevent-road-congestion-ahead-public-housing-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3352219/new-fanling-bypass-section-prevent-road-congestion-ahead-public-housing-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 09:49:56 +0000 SCMP Reporter SCMP Reporter A major exhibition featuring more than 250 sets of Han dynasty relics – most of which have never been displayed in Hong Kong – is offering a rare look into one of the most influential periods of Chinese history. The showcase, titled “The Majestic Han: A Golden Age of Vigour and Cultural Integration”, is running at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui until September 20. Admission is free. The event is co-organised by the Development Bureau and the National Cultural Heritage... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3350639/over-250-rare-han-dynasty-relics-display-major-hong-kong-showcase?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3350639/over-250-rare-han-dynasty-relics-display-major-hong-kong-showcase?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:21:47 +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 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 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 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 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong authorities will extend the deadline for mandatory building inspection orders to let homeowners vet contractors’ conviction records on a new platform launching later this year, the city’s development chief has said. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho also said on Saturday that the prequalification list on the Urban Renewal Authority’s electronic platform, currently undergoing upgrades, would be reviewed every two years and take into account owners’ feedback. “Some... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341103/hong-kong-extend-building-inspection-deadlines-amid-ura-platform-upgrade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341103/hong-kong-extend-building-inspection-deadlines-amid-ura-platform-upgrade?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 08:46:22 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong authorities could expand background checks on authorised persons in construction projects to cover company directors, the development chief has said, as the government moves to plug policy loopholes exposed by the Tai Po inferno. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho indicated the possible policy direction on Wednesday, after experts said earlier this month that government proposals to strengthen the city’s maintenance regime did not go far enough to address long-standing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340652/hong-kong-authorities-may-vet-construction-firm-directors-strengthen-oversight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340652/hong-kong-authorities-may-vet-construction-firm-directors-strengthen-oversight?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:23:37 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong will launch an enhanced government-backed tendering platform for private building maintenance projects in the second half of the year to curb bid-rigging while tightening scrutiny of contractors, consultants and their leaders. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho told the media that authorities aimed to launch the upgraded “Smart Tender” platform in the second half of the year. She added that under the new system, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) would conduct strict... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340342/hong-kongs-ura-will-boost-scrutiny-company-heads-enhanced-tender-platform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340342/hong-kongs-ura-will-boost-scrutiny-company-heads-enhanced-tender-platform?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 14:05:15 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s new Legislative Council held its first meeting on Wednesday, with lawmakers focusing on follow-up work after last November’s deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, which claimed the lives of 161 people and displaced nearly 5,000 residents. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and government officials outlined priorities including rehousing the displaced residents, reforming industry practices and holding those responsible for the tragedy accountable. The Post looks into the measures... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340027/bid-rigging-clamp-smoke-free-construction-sites-hong-kongs-legco-gets-cracking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340027/bid-rigging-clamp-smoke-free-construction-sites-hong-kongs-legco-gets-cracking?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:15:10 +0000 Natalie Wong,Leopold Chen Natalie Wong,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s newly elected lawmakers, many of them fresh faces on the political scene, held their first meeting on Wednesday, with officials pledging to address policy gaps exposed by the deadly Tai Po inferno, from tightening oversight of maintenance project tenders and raising homeowner voting thresholds to imposing a smoking ban at construction sites. Wednesday also marked the first time since Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty 28 years ago that a city leader had addressed the first... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3339922/gaps-laid-bare-deadly-hong-kong-fire-focus-first-legco-meeting-new-term?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3339922/gaps-laid-bare-deadly-hong-kong-fire-focus-first-legco-meeting-new-term?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 15:38:54 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong authorities plan to complete several promenade projects linking the Kowloon waterfront by the end of 2028, extending the total length of pedestrian pathways on both sides of Victoria Harbour to 34km (21 miles). The Development Bureau said on Sunday that 14km, or 70 per cent of the 21km developable waterfront on the Kowloon side, had already opened, nearly two weeks after the long-awaited 13km promenade on Hong Kong Island was fully connected. Some sections are set for completion within... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339509/hong-kong-plans-complete-kowloon-waterfront-promenade-projects-2028?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339509/hong-kong-plans-complete-kowloon-waterfront-promenade-projects-2028?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 12:26:48 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s development minister has ruled out expanding an approval system for scaffolding nets to cover suppliers, saying it would amount to government overreach, while the first batch of accredited mesh is expected to be available to contractors next week. The accreditation of scaffold nets was among the measures introduced to enhance fire safety at construction sites following the deadly Tai Po inferno in November. The government ordered the removal of all netting on about 420 buildings... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3339446/including-suppliers-new-hong-kong-rules-scaffolding-nets-overreaching?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3339446/including-suppliers-new-hong-kong-rules-scaffolding-nets-overreaching?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 11:08:36 +0000 Ian Brownlee Ian Brownlee The Northern Metropolis is in the news almost every day. The big policy focus for the administration, it is determining a new future for Hong Kong. Part of the New Territories, which were dubbed “a land between” in the 1980s, the area was once little more than a rural leftover between urban Hong Kong and the mainland, where Shenzhen’s paddy fields could be seen from a Lok Ma Chau hill. China’s opening-up policies saw Deng Xiaoping promoting Shenzhen in the 1990s. Suddenly, a world-class,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3339034/northern-metropolis-can-combine-best-central-planning-and-free-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3339034/northern-metropolis-can-combine-best-central-planning-and-free-market?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 21:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Just before the new year, Hong Kong’s government unveiled details for a more agile, corporate-led strategy to accelerate development of the Northern Metropolis. It could be a game changer for a project that the city needs to ensure its future prosperity. Officials are setting up a dedicated firm to run an industrial estate in the area. The non-statutory Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company would be a departure from typical public-private partnerships. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3338389/new-strategy-northern-metropolis-may-be-game-changer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3338389/new-strategy-northern-metropolis-may-be-game-changer?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 23:15:17 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s new Hung Shui Kiu industrial park will leverage the advantages of its location to focus on advanced manufacturing, including proprietary Chinese medicine, in a bid to differentiate itself from the San Tin Technopole, according to development authorities. While the government has yet to set key performance indicators (KPIs) for the company operating the park, a top development official said on Tuesday that the firm was expected to be financially independent and accountable to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3338121/new-hong-kong-industrial-park-eyes-edge-smart-manufacturing-chinese-medicine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3338121/new-hong-kong-industrial-park-eyes-edge-smart-manufacturing-chinese-medicine?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 06:08:07 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong’s government will set up a dedicated company to run a huge industrial park in Hung Shui Kiu and launch a six-month tender for a pilot area within the zone, offering incentives to encourage bids as part of an initiative to accelerate development of the Northern Metropolis. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said on Monday that the newly formed Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company was expected to be financially self-sustaining despite the government’s initial capital... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3338018/hong-kong-government-sets-non-statutory-company-run-northern-metropolis-site?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3338018/hong-kong-government-sets-non-statutory-company-run-northern-metropolis-site?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 08:13:10 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong police have arrested nine employees of a company suspected of submitting at least 45 forged certificates for surveying equipment used at five hospital expansion projects and a government construction site. The force said on Thursday that it had apprehended six men and three women, aged 23 to 48, from acoustic and environmental services consultancy Novox for the alleged use of fabricated certificates since 2022. The surveying equipment was used to measure air quality, noise and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3337679/9-held-over-use-45-fake-surveying-equipment-certificates-hong-kong-projects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3337679/9-held-over-use-45-fake-surveying-equipment-certificates-hong-kong-projects?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 03:23:01 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Raphael Chan* entered Hong Kong’s construction sector in the mid-1990s convinced that quality building works could improve people’s lives. But he quit more than two decades later, disillusioned by what he called rampant corruption in the industry. The former senior project manager at a consultancy company said he had witnessed how syndicates, often led by triad-linked masterminds, plotted bid-rigging as early as 10 years in advance, bribed key stakeholders and pocketed up to 50 per cent of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3337235/hong-kong-bid-rigging-bigwigs-paid-kickbacks-shenzhen-saunas-construction-veteran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3337235/hong-kong-bid-rigging-bigwigs-paid-kickbacks-shenzhen-saunas-construction-veteran?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 12:30:46 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong’s development chief has vowed to tighten building safety laws to punish those exploiting loopholes, warning that authorities will show no leniency towards the construction sector that has come under public scrutiny after the deadly Tai Po fire. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho also said on Saturday that the government would take over incomplete building renovations posing safety risks, following delays caused by new inspection requirements implemented after the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337166/no-leniency-hong-kong-minister-vows-tougher-building-safety-laws-after-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337166/no-leniency-hong-kong-minister-vows-tougher-building-safety-laws-after-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 06:23:15 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong’s development minister has said there is no need for an across-the-board switch from bamboo to metal scaffolding, saying the former was not the cause of last month’s deadly Tai Po fire. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho’s stance on Thursday appeared to mark a shift from that of Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, who earlier said the city should replace bamboo scaffolding with steel a day after the inferno at Wang Fuk Court. He said the city should make the transition “as... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3336120/no-need-complete-switch-bamboo-metal-scaffolding-hong-kong-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3336120/no-need-complete-switch-bamboo-metal-scaffolding-hong-kong-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:09:36 +0000 Edith Lin,Oscar Liu Edith Lin,Oscar Liu Hong Kong contractors will be required to provide proof that the scaffolding mesh they use is fire-retardant while samples will also be tested in designated laboratories after arriving in the city under a series of measures rolled out by the government in the wake of the deadly fire in Tai Po. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said on Thursday that nets could only be used after all their samples had passed lab tests, while the authorities would also conduct random checks on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3336058/hong-kong-mandates-proof-tests-fire-retardant-scaffolding-nets-after-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3336058/hong-kong-mandates-proof-tests-fire-retardant-scaffolding-nets-after-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 09:10:35 +0000 Edith Lin,Vivian Au Edith Lin,Vivian Au Hong Kong authorities will announce new requirements for contractors to sample and certify the city’s scaffolding nets as early as Thursday, under which every batch of materials sampled on site could be required to pass a fire-retardant test at authorised laboratories after the deadly blaze in Tai Po, the Post has learned. Insiders said on Wednesday that the government had met contractor and worker representatives on Monday to gather their views on the new procedures for sampling and certifying... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335864/hong-kong-considers-designated-labs-test-scaffolding-nets-after-deadly-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335864/hong-kong-considers-designated-labs-test-scaffolding-nets-after-deadly-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 06:18:35 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Ambrose Li,Danny Mok Lo Hoi-ying,Ambrose Li,Danny Mok Authorities have ordered scaffold netting to be removed at about 200 locations across Hong Kong by Saturday after suspected false safety certificates were found at two building sites following the Tai Po blaze that claimed 159 lives. A week after Hong Kong’s worst inferno in decades, police on Wednesday arrested six men from the company responsible for the fire alarm system at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, where the blaze ripped through seven towers covered in bamboo scaffolding and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335110/hong-kong-orders-scaffold-netting-be-removed-200-sites-wake-inferno?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335110/hong-kong-orders-scaffold-netting-be-removed-200-sites-wake-inferno?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 16:51:00 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Chinachem Group has secured a 70,127 sq ft site in Tsuen Wan in the New Territories for more than HK$2.47 billion (US$318 million), beating eight other bidders, according to the Lands Department. The other bidders were Sun Hung Kai Properties, CK Asset Holdings, Henderson Land Development, Great Eagle Holdings, China Overseas Land & Investment, K. Wah International Holdings, Wheelock Properties and a consortium of Sino Land, Kerry Properties and China Merchants Land. The award gives Chinachem –... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3333300/chinachem-secures-plot-hong-kongs-tsuen-wan-us318-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3333300/chinachem-secures-plot-hong-kongs-tsuen-wan-us318-million?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 13:33:34 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Nine groups, including some of Hong Kong’s largest developers – Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), CK Asset Holdings, Henderson Land and Chinachem Group – have submitted offers for a 70,127 sq ft parcel in Tsuen Wan in the New Territories. The Lands Department received the bids by noon on Friday, the deadline for the tender that began on September 26, according to a spokeswoman, who did not provide further details. The developers confirmed their participation in the tender to the Post. The site at... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3332837/hong-kongs-top-developers-vie-rare-tsuen-wan-site-test-land-market-rebound?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3332837/hong-kongs-top-developers-vie-rare-tsuen-wan-site-test-land-market-rebound?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:44:36 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong authorities have saved about HK$190 billion (US$24.4 billion) in costs from more than 540 public works projects over the past nine years, according to a top official who also pledged to further advance construction innovation. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun said on Friday that the city had improved its performance in lowering construction costs, as Hong Kong’s position in the Arcadis International Construction Costs report dropped from third in 2020 to 10th this... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3331907/hong-kong-saves-hk190-billion-540-public-works-projects-over-past-9-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3331907/hong-kong-saves-hk190-billion-540-public-works-projects-over-past-9-years?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 07:26:09 +0000 Salina Li Salina Li Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), Hong Kong’s largest developer, edged five other bidders to win the tender for a parcel of land in the New Territories, a residential development that is expected to cost about HK$6 billion (US$772 million). The tender for the Tuen Mun A16 station package one property development, which closed on Wednesday, was awarded to SHKP subsidiary Mega Asia International, MTR Corp said on Thursday, without disclosing the winning bid amount. The package one development, with... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3331816/shkp-unit-mega-asia-wins-tender-mtrs-tuen-mun-site?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3331816/shkp-unit-mega-asia-wins-tender-mtrs-tuen-mun-site?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 12:03:27 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong’s business sector has echoed a government call to boost the voter turnout rate in the coming Legislative Council election by offering incentives such as a half day of paid leave and transport subsidies to encourage employees to cast their ballots. Developer Sino Group was among the first conglomerates leading the drive as it announced it would grant more than 11,000 staff members a half day of leave for voting on December 7 while promoting election awareness internally. “This is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3331127/hong-kong-business-sector-push-get-workers-vote-coming-legco-poll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3331127/hong-kong-business-sector-push-get-workers-vote-coming-legco-poll?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:30:43 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The sluggish property market has made government land sales more difficult. With the economy still volatile and public confidence fragile, developers and homebuyers are understandably cautious when making investment decisions. Officials should monitor market sentiment closely and adjust relevant policies accordingly in a prudent and timely manner. If the latest residential property prices are any reference, the market has apparently bottomed out. Data from the Rating and Valuation Department... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3330887/hong-kongs-fiscal-health-commercial-land-sales-should-resume?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3330887/hong-kongs-fiscal-health-commercial-land-sales-should-resume?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 23:15:10 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong’s construction quality will remain world-class, even as authorities introduce more materials and standards from mainland China, the development minister has said in response to public concerns over building safety. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said the government was considering pre-approving construction materials regarded by the industry as offering good value for money – such as steel, concrete and glass – and reviewing its building standards, but stressed that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3330533/hong-kong-building-quality-wont-fall-allowing-mainland-chinese-standards-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3330533/hong-kong-building-quality-wont-fall-allowing-mainland-chinese-standards-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 07:00:10 +0000 Olga Wong Olga Wong Hong Kong authorities could suspend the sales of commercial sites for a second year due to a lack of demand, the development minister has said, while rejecting the notion that the government was pressured by developers to shelve the Lantau reclamation plan. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho made the prediction even as the city’s grade A office spaces saw a slight drop in vacancy rates between the second and third quarters. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced in February... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3330530/hong-kong-could-halt-commercial-land-sales-second-year-over-poor-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3330530/hong-kong-could-halt-commercial-land-sales-second-year-over-poor-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:30:09 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Relaxing development rules in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis should be viewed not as yielding to developers but as part of a broader effort to attract investors, the development minister has said, as she revealed new incentives and details of the special legislation for the megaproject. In an exclusive interview with the Post, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said that the government was considering extending the six-year construction limit under the first large-scale land... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3330394/northern-metropolis-flexibility-not-favouring-developers-hong-kong-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3330394/northern-metropolis-flexibility-not-favouring-developers-hong-kong-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 00:30:15 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Urban Renewal Authority suffered a loss in 2024-25 of HK$2.72 billion, its third straight annual deficit after nearly a decade in the black. With no certainty of a return to profit in the financial year ending in March, the government’s immediate response has been to further raise the authority’s borrowing limit from HK$25 billion to HK$35 billion to finance redevelopment operations. In the longer term, however, the administration and the cash-strapped authority see a more sustainable... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3330203/strike-balance-when-fixing-hong-kongs-urban-renewal-compensation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3330203/strike-balance-when-fixing-hong-kongs-urban-renewal-compensation?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Oct 2025 23:15:14 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Mainland China’s planning and construction methods for major new areas in Beijing and Hebei province offer valuable reference points for Hong Kong’s development and financing of the Northern Metropolis megaproject, the finance chief has said while meeting a top central government official in the capital. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, who led a 40-strong government delegation to the two locations, shared his takeaways on Friday as he wrapped up his trip to the Beijing Municipal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3330235/beijing-hebei-projects-offer-inspiration-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3330235/beijing-hebei-projects-offer-inspiration-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 10:00:49 +0000 Salina Li Salina Li The Hong Kong government will launch a single residential site in Kowloon for tender in its third financial quarter, as authorities focus on the Northern Metropolis to launch new land sales as soon as the end of this year. A plot measuring 40,902 sq ft at Choi Hing Road, Jordan Valley, will be made available via tender in the December quarter, enough to provide about 570 average-sized flats, according to the Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho. That launch would come after the... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3328408/hong-kong-offer-small-kowloon-site-tender-focus-sharpens-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3328408/hong-kong-offer-small-kowloon-site-tender-focus-sharpens-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 11:50:29 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin The use of Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) flats to address challenges faced by Hong Kong’s construction industry has come under the spotlight after installation issues were flagged at three light public housing sites. Concerns were raised earlier this week after some MiC flats at the sites were previously found to have been improperly installed. Authorities stressed that the incident was related to on-site work procedures rather than the construction method itself. The Post unpacks how... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328138/unsure-about-hong-kongs-modular-flats-post-unpacks-big-questions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328138/unsure-about-hong-kongs-modular-flats-post-unpacks-big-questions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Oct 2025 10:50:53 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Hong Kong awaits typhoons with some trepidation, being well aware of the devastation they can wreak. But the storms also bring a sense of excitement, romance and wonder. They are part of the city’s collective memory. This fascination with the forces of nature led some foolhardy souls last week to recklessly venture too close to the coastline during Super Typhoon Ragasa. It left them at the mercy of the raging sea and placed their lives in danger. Some even took children with them. It was more... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3327109/not-playing-king-canute-during-typhoon-matter-common-sense?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3327109/not-playing-king-canute-during-typhoon-matter-common-sense?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 14:00:16 +0000 Edith Lin,Vivian Au Edith Lin,Vivian Au Hong Kong’s cash-strapped Urban Renewal Authority (URA) will consult the public next year about its preliminary proposal to revamp a financially unsustainable compensation scheme for flat owners affected by redevelopment, a minister has said. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho on Friday gave a timeline for reviewing the statutory body’s compensation mechanism, which provides payouts equivalent to the market price of a comparable seven-year-old home in the same district. In his... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3326189/cash-strapped-hong-kong-urban-renewal-body-set-reveal-proposed-payout-changes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3326189/cash-strapped-hong-kong-urban-renewal-body-set-reveal-proposed-payout-changes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 11:12:43 +0000 Edith Lin,Vivian Au Edith Lin,Vivian Au Hong Kong authorities have withdrawn tenders for two sites in the New Territories initially earmarked for multi-storey buildings for modern industries to speed up development in the Northern Metropolis, with the government taking a bigger role. The Development Bureau said on Monday that a three-hectare site in Yuen Long would be passed to the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) to build a microelectronics ecosystem to promote high-value-added new industrialisation. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319048/hong-kong-withdraws-tenders-2-sites-speed-northern-metropolis-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319048/hong-kong-withdraws-tenders-2-sites-speed-northern-metropolis-development?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jul 2025 13:05:53 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong’s cash-strapped Urban Renewal Authority (URA) may review its policy to reduce compensation to residents affected by redevelopments, its new chief has said, as the organisation faces financial challenges. URA managing director Donald Choi Wun-hing said on Friday in his first meeting with the media that it was an appropriate time to review the current compensation package. Residential flat owners receive the cash equivalent of the market price of a comparable seven-year-old flat in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3318815/hong-kongs-ura-may-review-compensation-cuts-residents-affected-redevelopment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3318815/hong-kongs-ura-may-review-compensation-cuts-residents-affected-redevelopment?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:39:33 +0000