Northern Metropolis to see new park company formed in 2026: Development chief

Development Secretary Bernadette Linn Hon-ho announced that a non-statutory company to manage a 23-hectare logistics park in Hung Shui Kiu will be established in 2026, as part of Hong Kong’s accelerated Northern Metropolis development plan.

The Hong Kong government’s latest Policy Address has outlined plans to fast-track the development of the Northern Metropolis, a major urban project aimed at boosting economic growth. 

A Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis will be established, overseeing three specialized subgroups.

Linn revealed that a study is underway for a 23-hectare site in Hung Shui Kiu, intended for a logistics park.

Recommendations will be presented to the committee by the end of 2025, with plans to establish a non-statutory industry park company in 2026 to attract investment.

To streamline the process, the government will introduce dedicated legislation for the Northern Metropolis, including a specific funding mechanism.

Linn explained that this would allow the park company to make investment decisions, some involving commercially sensitive information, without needing to seek Legislative Council (LegCo) approval for each project. 

Instead, an overall budget would be approved by LegCo, with funds allocated to individual projects through the dedicated channel. Linn emphasized that LegCo would still have appropriate involvement.

The government aims to launch a public consultation on the Northern Metropolis legislation in early 2026, submit a draft bill to LegCo by mid-2026, and complete the legislative process within the year.