Li Jiachao announced the first five-year plan of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: promoting the construction of the northern metropolitan area

Xinhua News Agency, Hong Kong, September 16 (Reporter Shu Na) The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Li Jiachao, announced the first five-year plan of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at the Legislative Council of the Special Administrative Region on the 16th. He said that the goal of accelerating the planning and development of the northern metropolitan area is to build the northern metropolitan area into a main platform for Hong Kong to deeply participate in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, actively integrate into and serve the overall development of the country, and develop a new engine for new productivity.

Li Jiachao said that with the vision of "Finance in the South, Innovation and Technology in the North" leading the future spatial layout of Hong Kong, the northern metropolitan area will be laid out with the development goals of university town, innovation and technology, industry and livability, business and tourism, and achieve the integrated development of education, technology and talents. Promote the construction of Beidu University Town, Xintian Science and Technology City, and the Hong Kong Park of the Loop Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone to achieve the northern metropolitan area's mission as an important strategic carrier for the development of high-level post-secondary education, the integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation, and the gathering of international high-end talents.

He proposed to build a happy, dynamic and innovative northern metropolitan area with "planning-led, infrastructure-first, industry-driven and people-oriented" approach. Implement a series of reform measures to pilot the development, management and operation of new development area mechanisms in the northern metropolitan area, including flexible land planning to accommodate diverse industries and respond to market changes; and the adoption of innovative and diversified development models to encourage public-private cooperation.

Li Jiachao said that we will improve the connection of local and cross-border transportation infrastructure, and accelerate the advancement of important railway and road projects related to the northern metropolitan area under the "eight vertical and eight horizontal" infrastructure layout, including the Beidu Highway (Xintian Section) and the Qinglong Bridge at the southern end of Route 11, the Northern Ring Branch connecting the Xinhuanggang Port, and the Hong Kong Section of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Railway, and study the feasibility of its future southward extension to strengthen the connection between the northern metropolitan area and the Hong Kong International Airport.

Li Jiachao said that to promote housing and economic construction in the northern metropolitan area, the goal is to produce more than 70,000 housing units and 1 million square meters of economic floor area in the next five years, gradually optimize the area allocation of public housing and increase the area requirements for private residential units, implement the land use layout of the "15-minute living circle", and build the northern metropolitan area into a demonstration area for high-quality life in Hong Kong. (over)