Policy Address 2025: Hong Kong to take further actions for land management in Northern Metropolis

A land use review over the Sha Po area, as part of the Northern Metropolis,  a development priority proposed four years ago, will be established to discuss its development potential and the feasibility of constructing more private housing in the region, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in his policy address on Wednesday. 

According to the Planning Department, Hong Kong will build 500,000 housing units in the coming decade in the Northern Metropolis for 2.5 million people. 

Mak Sui-choi, Associate Professor who researches finance and investment at Hong Kong Baptist University, said the Northern Metropolis may attract labour to the local industry.

“The increase in Hong Kong's population is a good thing, driving the development of other local industries,” Mak said. 

“But the construction of the Northern Metropolis should first address the conflicting land status,” he added. 

According to the commissioned Farm Land Survey Report by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, most farmland in San Tin and Ngau Tam Mei has been rebranded as non-arable fields.

“The first step for the government is to reacquire the land and adjust its current land status,” Mak said. 

“This is going to be a long and cumbersome process, but it is doable,” he added. 

Lee said the government will arrange three sites for the Urban Renewal Authority to build new housing in Kwu Tung North and Fanling North, areas that are part of the Northern Metropolis. 

While the Northern Metropolis area presented certain property development potential, a 28-year-old two-time mainland home buyer Cissy Chen opted for Kai Tak instead. 

“The Northern Metropolis is far away from Hong Kong Island as compared to Kai Tak, location is my main consideration when it comes to real estate investment," Chen said.

She added that it would be long before infrastructures in the northern metropolis would mature. 

Zhu Mengfei, 32, a mainlander who plans to purchase a house for marriage, said the Northern Metropolis is a good choice for her to consider buying a house.

“The house in the Northern Metropolis has a low price and well-prepared amenities,” Zhu said. “We are glad to see more communities like the Northern Metropolis because the competition will stress local developers and lead to better options for consumers,” Zhu added.