Action plan for engine of future development coming out

The government will outline development projects and timetables in an action plan to be announced today for the Northern Metropolis, says Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced it will be published following his policy address last week, with Northern Metropolis to be divided into four major zones from west to east.

The four zones will consist of a high-end professional services and logistics hub, an innovation and technology zone, a boundary commerce and industry zone and a blue and green recreation, tourism and conservation circle.

On a blog post, Linn said the action agenda will announce the projects and timetables that the government is planning to push forward in each of the four zones.

"The Northern Metropolis will be the new engine of Hong Kong's future development. It will adopt an 'industry-driven and infrastructure-led' approach as its key planning axle, and will forge a major hub for Hong Kong to integrate into the overall development of our country," she said.

She added that the government will continue to press ahead with land creation and that the Northern Metropolis will play an important role in Hong Kong's future land supply.

"According to the latest statistics, there will be 3,370 hectares of land ready for development. More than half comes from the Northern Metropolis with around 1,400 hectares, and the Kau Yi Chau artificial islands with around 400 hectares," Linn said.

The government will also implement an "enhanced conventional new town approach," which will allow landowners to change their land deeds in order to take part in the development type preferred by the government.

Land owners might not have consolidated 100 percent ownership of the land plot for development, especially those that are relatively bigger and involve tso-tong land, known as ancestral land, according to Linn.

"If land owners can consolidate 90 percent of the land's ownership, they can file an application under the approach, and the government will use public powers to revert the remaining 10 percent back to the government and hand it to the applicant for development," she said.

This will allow current land owners to take part, save time and expenses to prepare for development, while also giving the Northern Metropolis bigger pieces of land plots to work with.

Apart from the Northern Metropolis, Linn said the government will start the environmental impact assessment as scheduled for the Kau Yi Chau artificial islands, which will provide around 1,000 hectares.

Linn said the government will amend laws next year to delegate authority to the Buildings Department to prosecute those failing to comply with removal orders over illegal construction.

"The government will review the registration and penalty mechanisms of construction contractors to ensure quality and safety and make a proposal to add more elderly-friendly facilities at public housing estates by next year."

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com