Financial Secretary Paul Chan accompanied members of the central authorities' publicity delegation on a visit to the Northern Metropolis this afternoon.

The delegation members were President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Hou Jianguo and Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial & Economic Affairs and Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Rural Affairs, the Communist Party of China (CPC), Zhu Weidong.

They were visiting Hong Kong to speak about the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC.

The two delegates first visited the Kwu Tung North New Development Area (NDA), where they were briefed on the progress of planning and construction for the NDA and the whole Northern Metropolis.

The NDA is the first such area in the Northern Metropolis to enter its construction phase. The delegation visited the site office to conduct an on-site inspection of construction there.

They then visited the Hong Kong Park area of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, which will open officially in December. They toured the wet laboratory facilities and accommodation for talent in the Hong Kong Park.

They also exchanged views with members of enterprises specialising in life and health technology, artificial intelligence and robotics, which have already settled in the park. They were briefed on the park's operations and future development.

The delegation members highlighted that the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee outlined key initiatives to promote the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and expressed hope that people can grasp opportunities to help implement the 15th Five-Year Plan by leveraging Hong Kong's distinctive advantages and vital functions of enjoying the motherland's strong support while being closely connected to the world.

They said that will speed up the development of the Northern Metropolis and accelerate Hong Kong's development as an international innovation and technology centre, as well as its integration into and contribution to the broader national development landscape.

Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn, Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong, and others accompanied the delegates during their tour.