Measures to streamline Northern Metropolis land-use procedures unveiled

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Vivian AuMarch 17, 2026 at 04:38 PM

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Hong Kong authorities have proposed new legislation to expedite land-use changes within the Northern Metropolis megaproject. Unveiled by the Development Bureau, the proposed laws aim to reduce the land-use change process from nine months to two by removing bottlenecks and streamlining procedures. The legislation includes six subsidiary laws focused on establishing statutory firms, accelerating land resumption payments, adopting new building technologies, simplifying noise permission, facilitating cross-border flow, and extending temporary land-use validity. The Northern Metropolis, announced in 2021, is a 30,000-hectare project intended to be a new economic and housing hub near the mainland China border. The initiative aligns with China's 15th five-year plan.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Town Planning Board 40% 15th five-year plan 50% Legislative Council 50% mainland China 60% John Lee Ka-chiu 60% Development Bureau ×270% Hong Kong ×280% Northern Metropolis 90%

Keywords

northern metropolis 100% land use 90% streamline procedures 80% megaproject 70% land resumption 60% housing hub 50% economic growth 50% hong kong 40% legislation 40%