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Hong Kong to look into completing rail link in Northern Metropolis earlier after lawmakers voice concerns over potential jobs, housing mismatch
- Development chief tells lawmakers enterprises could move into Northern Metropolis by 2030, followed by residents, triggering questions on plan’s feasibility
- Lawmakers ask whether jobs will be available for residents as the Northern Link may not open until 2034
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Authorities will look into completing a major rail line in Hong Kong’s New Territories earlier after lawmakers voiced concerns over a potential mismatch between housing and jobs in the Northern Metropolis megaproject.
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The ambitious metropolis project, described by the administration as a new driving force for economic growth and integration with mainland China, was announced in 2021 by former chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and covers a total land area of about 300 sq km.
Located in the northern part of Hong Kong, bordering the mainland, the area is said to be capable of housing a population of 2.5 million and create 650,000 job opportunities when fully developed.
In a Legislative Council discussion on Friday, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said enterprises could move in by 2030, followed by residents, triggering questions from lawmakers about the plan’s feasibility.
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