Development across the Northern Metropolis (NM) will spearhead Hong Kong’s spatial layout optimisation, anchoring Chief Executive John Lee’s First Five-Year Plan announced today with a focus on education, technology and economic expansion.

The blueprint expands the area of the three University Towns – San Tin, Hung Shui Kiu and Ta Kwu Ling – to over 1,000 hectares to form an area for talent development.

Guided by the “One Town, Five Elements” layout, the university towns integrate education, technology, industry, talent and urban development. Campus areas spanning 300 hectares will connect directly to adjacent strategic industry areas, distinctive conservation areas, recreational and cultural facilities and surrounding living communities.

According to the Plan, San Tin University Town is positioned to focus on medicine, life and health technology, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, microelectronics and emerging industries. Construction will commence on the medical school of The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology alongside an integrated medical teaching and research hospital.

Hung Shui Kiu University Town will serve as a cultivation centre for smart manufacturing, applied post-secondary education and internationalised talent, with campus site allocations commencing in 2026 and post-secondary institutions moving in between 2027 and 2028.

Ta Kwu Ling University Town, meanwhile, will incorporate arts and blue-green development elements while reserving strategic space for future needs. Sites will be made available progressively from 2030 onwards to support the development of emerging industries, advanced construction industries, traditional industries and new industries.

To build a technology-driven industry-academia-research collaborative innovation system, the Government will expedite the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone under the vision of “one river, two banks” and “one zone, two parks”. Spatial layout, planning coordination and infrastructure connectivity between the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Parks will be aligned to facilitate the secure, efficient and convenient flow of personnel, materials, capital and data.

Additionally, the San Tin Technopole, the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster, the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park and modern logistics cluster, the Lau Fau Shan Digital Technology Hub, the Advanced Construction Industrial Park in Yuen Long South will form a platform for diversified industry development, and the Ta Kwu Ling New Development Area will serve as a base for emerging industries.

Land supply initiatives will make available about 900 hectares of “spade-ready sites” from 2026-27 to 2030-31, enabling the provision of over 70,000 housing units and 1 million square metres of economic floor space.

The Government will enact the Northern Metropolis Development Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation to streamline control throughout the development process and expedite bringing in industries.

On the transport front, infrastructure will press full steam ahead under the “Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal Corridors” layout. Priority projects include the Northern Link Spur Line, the Hong Kong section of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link, the Northern Metropolis Highway (San Tin Section), and the Tsing Lung Bridge at the Southern end of Route 11.

Railway accessibility will expand as Kwu Tung Station on the East Rail Line and Hung Shui Kiu Station on the Tuen Ma Line commence operation in 2027 and 2030, respectively.

Visit Part 3 of Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan for more details.