Michael Wong: Govt can handle Northern Metropolis and Lantau Tomorrow Vision simultaneously

The Panel on Development of the Legislative Council today (Oct. 25) discussed the relevant policy areas in the Policy Address. Some Members were concerned about whether the government have difficulties in conducting the two major development plans, namely the Northern Metropolis and Lantau Tomorrow Vision, at the same time. The Secretary for Development, Michael Wong Wai-lun, responded that he was confident that the government and the construction industry would be able to cope with the two development plans at the same time, and estimated that the government would spend HK$2 to $2.4 trillion on infrastructure projects in 20 years.

Wong explained that only 600 hectares of land would be newly added to the Northern Metropolis plan, while the rest of the land has been involved in the development plans that have been proposed or are under study. Kau Yi Chau Artificial Island together with the reclamation project nearby covers an area of about 1,200 hectares. In recent years, HK has been carrying out two large-scale reclamation projects concurrently, namely Tung Chung East reclamation project and the Hong Kong International Airport Three-runway System reclamation project, covering a total area of about 800 hectares.

Some LegCo members questioned that the Northern Metropolis might take too long. Wong said that if parts of the North Metropolis area are adjacent to the existing development area, the government would incorporate some of the planning into the existing study, in order to shorten the study period for the Northern Metropolis.