Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John Lee, announced the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and his fifth Policy Address, outlining a strategic vision to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis (NM) and establish an international hub for high-calibre talent. The plan, revealed on September 16, positions the NM as a key driver for advancing post-secondary education, integrating innovation and technology (I&T) with industry, and attracting global talent. "The NM will rise as an important strategic vehicle for advancing high-quality post-secondary education, integrating I&T and industry, and pooling international high-calibre talent," Lee stated. "It will become a major platform for Hong Kong's deepening engagement with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and integration into and serving the overall national development."
Central to this initiative is the establishment of the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT), which will integrate education, technology, industry, talent, and quality living. According to Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki, the NMUT will comprise three university towns in San Tin, Hung Shui Kiu, and Ta Kwu Ling, with combined campus areas covering about 300 hectares. "Together with the surrounding technology areas, industry areas and living community areas, the overall planned areas of the three university towns will exceed 1,000 hectares," Chan said. Each university town will have its own strategic focus, but their shared goal is to expand Hong Kong's education and research capabilities while connecting them with industry chains, supply networks, and markets locally and across the GBA. The first building, Building 1 of the Loop Hong Kong Park, is scheduled for completion by the end of this year and will serve as the flagship project for launching the NMUT.
To support the NMUT and enhance scientific research, the government will expand post-secondary education capacity. Starting from the 2027/28 academic year, the annual quota of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme will gradually increase from 400 to 550 places by 2029/30. Additionally, an extra $20 million will be provided each academic year to support knowledge transfer and accelerate the transformation of innovative outcomes. Chan emphasized that the NMUT not only consolidates Hong Kong's status as an international hub for post-secondary education but also acts as a primary platform for engaging with the Greater Bay Area and integrating into national development. "It also acts as a new engine to elevate Hong Kong's international connectivity and reinforce its global competitive advantages," he added.
The Northern Metropolis accounts for about one third of Hong Kong's total landmass and is projected to house about one third of the city's population. The First Five-Year Plan sets a target of making available about 900 hectares of "spade-ready sites" from 2026-27 to 2030-31, enabling the provision of over 70,000 housing units and one million square metres of economic floor space. Among the nine New Development Areas in the NM, construction has begun at four: Kwu Tung North/Fanling North, Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen, Yuen Long South, and San Tin Technopole and the Loop. A cumulative total of about 120 hectares of spade-ready sites have been produced up to 2025-26, with no less than 200 hectares planned for 2026-27 and 2027-28. This integrated urban-rural development strategy aims to create an ideal place to live, work, and travel, attracting talents and professionals.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan underscored the importance of talent, saying, "Talent is the most valuable asset of any economy. Indeed, competition among different economies is determined by the quality of the talent they have. It is critical that we have people with the qualifications, experience and expertise required to support our economic development." The 2026 Policy Address includes several talent attraction initiatives, such as relaxing requirements for technology start-up talent under the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) and expanding the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Invited Persons to cover Central Asia and the Middle East, in addition to ASEAN Member States. A new visa category will also be introduced for non-locals participating in short-term training programmes, advancing Hong Kong's development into a regional training hub.
For more information, the full document of Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan is available at www.hk5yplan.gov.hk. The implications of this announcement are significant for longbeach and surrounding areas, as it signals Hong Kong's intensified efforts to become a global innovation and talent magnet, potentially affecting international competition for talent and investment. Businesses and institutions in California may need to adapt to shifting global dynamics, particularly in technology and education sectors, as Hong Kong positions itself as a key player in the Greater Bay Area and beyond.
