Hong Kong Official Says Northern Metropolis on Track for 900 Hectares of Serviced Land by 2030

Hong Kong's first five-year plan sets a binding target for the Northern Metropolis to provide 900 hectares of serviced land before 2030. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn said on a radio programme that progress is good and that she is confident, otherwise she would not have dared to set a binding target. She said that in the coming years the government will accelerate the creation of large amounts of serviced land, with works at projects including Hung Shui Kiu, Kwu Tung North and San Tin already under way, and some sites preparing to seek funding approval.

Linn said that if the Legislative Council passes the Northern Metropolis Development Bill, the relevant measures can remove barriers and relax constraints, giving the government greater confidence and enabling it to do more and faster. Regarding past projects that failed to attract bids, she said the government had not previously focused on discussing with potential enterprises, and that the mistaken term "collusion" had led to an incorrect mindset. She stressed that understanding market demand and maintaining fair tendering are not in conflict. She said that before industrial land is released in future, the government needs to understand the needs of potential willing participants, seek views on preliminary land-use plans, adjust conditions after collecting opinions, and then conduct open tenders.

On tendering and tender-evaluation services, the government is studying a new service to replace the Urban Renewal Authority's Tender Smart. Linn said Tender Smart provides standard contracts and comprehensive tender evaluation for owners taking part in large-scale maintenance, and is a basic and entry-level service. The new service to replace Tender Smart could be launched as early as the first quarter of 2027.