Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs urges tycoons to bid on long-term projects

Real estate companies have been asked to support city by bidding on projects related to mega developments such as Northern Metropolis, minister says

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Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, meets business leaders in Shenzhen on Friday. Photo: Handout

Jeffie Lam,Kahon ChanandElizabeth Cheung

Published: 9:00pm, 9 Nov 2024

Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has called on property tycoons to back the government’s long-term development drives such as the Northern Metropolis by actively bidding for the projects involved, the city’s development minister has said.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho on Saturday revealed the appeals by Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, a day after the senior Beijing official met about 30 local business leaders in Shenzhen. Xia urged them to “recognise their responsibilities” and take “concrete actions” to support the city’s economic development.

Linn, who also attended the meeting alongside Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and seven other principal officials, said Xia had encouraged the business sector to throw their weight behind the government’s long-term development projects, including the Northern Metropolis and reclamation work for the Kau Yi Chau artificial islands.

“[Xia] said...these are good projects and he hoped that the business sector could actively take part in them,” Linn said.

Linn said active participation could mean businesses showing interest in bidding for government projects or taking part in consultancy studies during land production.

The business sector had shown a positive response in the meeting and pledged to do the “real work” for Hong Kong, she added.