Mainland firms urged to help with Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis plan

Beijing’s top man in Hong Kong has urged mainland Chinese enterprises to continue to increase their investments in the city and actively participate in the Northern Metropolis megaproject, saying they should shoulder more responsibility with greater contributions to public welfare and innovative reforms.

Zheng Yanxiong, director of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, made the call on Friday evening as he noted that 2025 marked the closing year of the national 14th five-year plan.

It was a “pivotal year” for the city to accelerate its transition from governance to prosperity, he said in a speech at the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association’s spring reception attended by more than 1,000 guests.

“I hope that Chinese-funded enterprises will leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantage of having the mainland as hinterland while being closely connected to the world, to continue to increase their investments in the city … and actively participate in the construction of the Northern Metropolis,” he said.

“They should fully support Hong Kong in consolidating its status as a financial, shipping and trade centre, as well as building an international innovation and technology hub.”

Zheng said the enterprises should support Hong Kong’s better integration into the country’s overall development and show greater responsibility in enhancing its momentum.