HONG KONG – Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said that accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis through innovative methods has become a widely supported priority among the public, as he concluded a six-week consultation for his upcoming policy address in September.
Speaking on Sunday after his second town hall session this year, Lee emphasised that policies must balance broad economic goals with everyday community needs to ensure inclusivity.
“When designing policies, attention to detail and clear communication are essential so people feel understood and benefit from our efforts,” he said.
The Sunday event, held at a secondary school in Yuen Long, gathered around 120 residents. It followed a similar session held the previous weekend, and forms part of a wider consultation effort comprising over 40 public sessions and 5,500 submissions—an increase of 10% from last year.
Lee reiterated that the Northern Metropolis, positioned to transform the northern New Territories into an economic and housing hub, is seen as a “new growth engine” for the city. He said the government is committed to attracting high-value industries to anchor the project.
Members of ethnic minority communities also raised concerns, including the shortage of prayer spaces for Muslims, insufficient language learning support, and the need for more funding for mosques and better employment opportunities.
Lee responded by acknowledging the contributions of minority groups and called for improved education resources to support integration. He urged communities and district organisations to work collaboratively with the government to convey local needs effectively.
A finance sector professional voiced concerns about regulations affecting ride-hailing platforms, urging the government to support start-ups innovating in this space. Lee admitted the taxi industry had long been difficult to regulate but pointed to encouraging developments in premium taxi fleets.
Transport and Logistics Secretary Mable Chan echoed this, noting that the launch of five premium fleets marked a significant industry reform. She added that with growth in driver recruitment and management oversight, service standards were expected to improve.
Lee further stressed the importance of embracing global construction methods and technologies to spur innovation and tech development.
He also cited public recognition of the administration’s bold efforts to tackle entrenched issues like subdivided housing and ride-hailing regulation.
Addressing concerns over labour imports, Lee noted that Hong Kong’s economy is in a transformative phase, with varying impacts across sectors. He assured that the government would support industries under strain through subsidies or targeted manpower solutions.
To stimulate employment, the administration has raised its annual public works budget from HK$90 billion to HK$120 billion. Lee reported positive economic indicators, including a 3.1% year-on-year GDP growth in Q2 and a 12.5% increase in merchandise exports in the first half of the year.
“Hong Kong has more opportunities than challenges,” he stated.
During the two-hour town hall, residents spoke on issues such as land, housing, transport, and social welfare. One participant, working in recruitment, expressed concern about talent loss to cities like Singapore and Shanghai, noting that many new businesses in Hong Kong were from the mainland.
Lee responded that Hong Kong had become more globally competitive in recent years, indicating the success of existing policies.
“We will continue to develop the headquarters economy and draw international firms to establish regional bases in Hong Kong,” he said.
