Lawmakers support NM bill as second reading resumes

Lawmakers expressed their backing for a bill aimed at expediting the development of the Northern Metropolis during the resumption of its second reading on Wednesday. Andrew Lam from the Election Committee highlighted the society's widespread agreement on the need to speed up, enhance the quality, and improve the efficiency of such mega projects.

The government, determined to overcome traditional limitations, created a new legal framework for land development, infrastructure work, noise control, and cross-boundary element flow, according to Lam.

DAB's Yiu Ming proposed that the government increase its transparency by regularly informing lawmakers about the legislation's progress through the dissemination of quantitative indicators, such as average handling times for various projects.

Considering the Northern Metropolis's vast scale and the extensive land area involved, Yiu suggested that the government should increase the frequency of communication with the Legislative Council from once a year to once every six months.

Tam Chun-kwok emphasized that the Northern Metropolis would serve as the city's future engine, fostering innovation, technology, higher education, modern logistics, and quality of living. As the project will act as the main platform for integrated development in education, technology, and talent, it will also be crucial for integrating the SAR into the nation's development.

The Bills Committee spent 12 meetings and nearly 30 hours reviewing the legislation before tabling it for the second reading debate.