At least 25 villages in Hong Kong may be demolished for tech hub
In Hong Kong, authorities plan to develop an area of around 30,000 hectares under the Northern Metropolis project, where villages, farmland and natural wetland areas are located. As Channel NewsAsia reports, authorities view the project as a new economic center intended to deepen Hong Kong's integration with mainland China, diversify the economy and create new housing.
Project scale
The project, announced five years ago, will eventually cover approximately one-third of Hong Kong's territory. The Northern Metropolis is planned to accommodate around 2.5 million residents and create 650,000 jobs. It is intended to strengthen Hong Kong's ties with Macau and nine mainland Chinese cities that are part of the Greater Bay Area.
According to the civic organization Liber Research Community, at least 25 villages will be demolished to implement the plan. Representatives of government agencies told AFP that they intend to integrate rural areas into the project, but the ancestral homes of 71-year-old Tin Sam village resident Chan Yuk-tong were not considered culturally significant enough to preserve.
Cost and concerns
The Hong Kong government estimates the minimum cost of the Northern Metropolis at HK$224 billion, or $28.6 billion. Rating agency S&P believes the costs could exceed HK$360 billion. Authorities, citing bank estimates and an approximate 20-year timeframe, say the project will account for 13% of Hong Kong's gross domestic product.
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Environmental and social groups warn of risks to local communities, wildlife and public finances. Liber Research Community representative Brian Wong said that building a new city in a well-preserved area would inevitably be destructive, even with mitigation measures in place.
Land sale
Last month, following the first major land sale in the Northern Metropolis, a consortium of six companies, including Chinese state-owned enterprises and e-commerce platform JD.com, obtained development rights. The consortium is to build housing and a logistics center in the area where Chan Yuk-tong lives.
Niki So, a 42-year-old resident of Kwu Tung whose family had lived in the village for three generations, received an apartment in public housing as compensation. She expressed hope that the development of the area would succeed; otherwise, the sacrifice of her village would be in vain.
