Like Shenzhen, the Northern Metropolis is animated by the spirit of experimentation
At the heart of Hong Kong’s first five-year plan lies the Northern Metropolis – a massive tract of land spanning roughly a third of our entire city. Much ink has been spilled over what this project represents and why it matters, but if I had to summarise it in a single sentence, I would call it the “Shenzhen of Hong Kong”. To me, Shenzhen stands as the most miraculous growth story on Earth.…
The Northern Metropolis, a massive area encompassing roughly one-third of Hong Kong, echoes the groundbreaking transformation witnessed in Shenzhen. Much like Shenzhen, which blossomed from a modest fishing village to a premier global innovation hub, the Northern Metropolis embodies Hong Kong's ambition to become a hotbed of technological advancement.
Both cities, while distinct in their histories and circumstances, are rooted in a shared philosophy - one that places experimentation and adaptive learning at its core. This philosophy, born out of China's post-Cultural Revolution economic opening, was championed by then Guangdong Province leader Xi Zhongxun in 1979. Deng Xiaoping endorsed the idea, leading to the creation of China's first "special economic zones" in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Shantou.
These zones, intended as buffers for experimentation and inspiration for the rest of the nation, demonstrated the viability of integrating capitalist practices with socialist governance. Their success laid the groundwork for a nationwide economic boom. Fast forward to the present, Hong Kong faces the challenge of adapting to its evolving economic landscape.
With the city's traditional model no longer viable, there is a pressing need to leverage the opportunities presented by China's economic growth. The Northern Metropolis is seen as a potential solution, acting as a sandbox where innovative ideas can be tested and refined without the constraints of existing systems. Unlike Deng and Xi, who had to launch their experiment without a clear roadmap, we have the benefit of hindsight.
The Northern Metropolis represents a pragmatic approach to urban development, emphasizing practical outcomes over rigid ideological adherence. It highlights the importance of balance - between speed and stability, between top-down planning and bottom-up innovation. Just as Shenzhen's meteoric rise was not an overnight success but the result of systematic planning over generations, the Northern Metropolis aims to strike a similar balance, fostering growth through adaptive, flexible strategies.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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