Hong Kong plans to legislate to accelerate the construction of the Northern Metropolis Area.

The Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government submitted a discussion paper to the Legislative Council's Development Affairs Committee on the 17th, introducing the idea of establishing exclusive legislation to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis Area and soliciting the opinions of committee members. The discussion paper indicates that the proposed exclusive legislation focuses on three main areas, including further loosening restrictions on planning and land procedures in the Northern Metropolis Area, accelerating construction projects, and supporting industrial operations. The proposed legislation will establish the main framework, with specific categories identified, and authorize the Chief Executive of the SAR, together with the Executive Council, to further establish subsidiary legislation as needed in the specified categories. The paper notes that the main legislation will only apply to the Northern Metropolis Area, with the main framework corresponding to the three main areas mentioned above. It also specifies six policy categories for which subsidiary legislation can be established, including simplifying urban planning procedures, expediting compensation for land taken back, facilitating the adoption of innovative construction techniques, simplifying the process and requirements for applying for a building noise permit, facilitating and managing the flow of cross-border elements, and establishing statutory companies in designated areas.