Five-Year Plan: Hong Kong sets binding target for 900 ‘spade-ready sites’ in Northern Metropolis by 2030

Hong Kong has set a binding target of 900 hectares of land to be ready for construction in the city's northern region by 2030. This significant increase, more than seven times the current amount, is part of the city's first Five-Year Plan. The 900 "spade-ready sites" will serve as the basis for the Northern Metropolis, an extensive infrastructure project transforming 30,000 hectares of land near the border with mainland China into a tech hub.

This development aims to boost Hong Kong's competitiveness, improve living standards, and foster integration with Shenzhen. The Northern Metropolis is a key growth engine for post-secondary education and Innovation and Technology (I&T) development, promoting integrated growth of education, technology, and talent. Despite no targets for investment or tenders in the plan, the project involves site clearance operations, which have already begun.

Concerns about extensive environmental impacts and the displacement of thousands of residents from their rural village homes have surfaced. Beijing's top official on Hong Kong affairs, Xia Baolong, has emphasized the project's importance, urging local real estate tycoons and business magnates to participate in the government's infrastructure initiatives.