HONG KONG (SE): The Diocesan Building and Development Commission hosted a talk on February 10 at the Catholic Diocese Centre to gain a better understanding of the Northern Metropolis initiative launched by the Hong Kong government, exploring its significance for the mission and services of the diocese and Caritas.
Professor Ling Kar-kan, chairperson of the Hong Kong Housing Society, former director of Planning of the HKSAR Government, and past president of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners, was the guest speaker.
Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., delivered the opening remarks. Other attendees included Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-Shing; Philip Kwok, chairperson of the Diocesan Building and Development Commission; Professor Anthony Yeh, chairperson of the Research and Development Committee; and representatives from the educational and social welfare sectors of the diocese and Caritas.
Cardinal Stephen thanked Professor Ling for his presentation on the background, vision and development strategy of the Northern Metropolis, which provided valuable insights for the diocese and Caritas. He emphasised the strong link between the Church’s mission—including evangelisation, education and social services—and Hong Kong’s development, highlighting that the initiative offers new opportunities to expand pastoral and community outreach to better meet the needs of local residents.
Ling, who previously served as Strategic Planning Adviser for Hong Kong/Shenzhen Co-operation in the HKSAR Government, played a significant role in shaping the Northern Metropolis concept. In 2016, as Director of Planning, he introduced “Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030”, laying the groundwork for development in the northern New Territories.
During the talk, he outlined the background, vision, targets, and action plans for the Northern Metropolis. Spanning approximately 30,000 hectares across Yuen Long and North Districts, with over 3,000 hectares of newly developed land, the Northern Metropolis is set to become a major economic powerhouse for Hong Kong.
Once completed, the development is projected to accommodate around 2.5 million residents, offer approximately 500,000 housing units, and create an estimated 500,000 jobs.
[Cardinal Stephen] emphasised the strong link between the Church’s mission—including evangelisation, education and social services—and Hong Kong’s development
Ling noted that a primary goal of the initiative is to address the long-standing imbalance between housing and employment in Hong Kong. Many New Territories residents currently endure lengthy commutes to urban districts for work, impacting their well-being and family life. By generating more local job opportunities, the Northern Metropolis aims to reduce commuting times and improve quality of life.
He also introduced major projects within the initiative, such as the San Tin Technopole, Northern Metropolis University Town, New Territories North New Town, and proposed new railway links including the Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Rail Link.
Concluding his talk, Ling quoted the Book of Han, an ancient Chinese classic: “These [measures] are to make people live cheerfully and cultivate a sense of belonging in the place they call home.”
He emphasised that, beyond economic growth, the initiative ultimately seeks to enhance quality of life and foster pride in Hong Kong’s achievements.
The Northern Metropolis represents a pivotal urban development for Hong Kong over the next twenty years, set to significantly transform the northern New Territories. Forward planning will be essential to meet the needs of these emerging communities.
