Hong Kong’s legislature has given the green light to legislation aimed at expediting the development of the Northern Metropolis megaproject near the border with mainland China, with the government saying the bill will help achieve targets in the city’s first five-year plan.
Lawmakers completed the third reading of the Northern Metropolis Development Bill and unanimously passed it on Thursday. The bill resumed a second reading on Wednesday, with lawmakers debating it for about eight hours over the two days.
Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said on Thursday that the Northern Metropolis Development Bill would lay a solid foundation for achieving the vision of the megaproject as laid out in the city’s first five-year plan, which outlines Hong Kong’s socio-economic development between 2026 and 2030 to align with the national blueprint.