Why lack of clear vision is holding back Northern Metropolis' future
Hong Kong recently celebrated a significant milestone: the
grand opening of the
Kai Tak Stadium . On a weekend as I jogged past the venue, the Kai Tak Run – the sport park's first running event – was in full swing. Hundreds of participants embarked on a route winding around the youth park, the main stadium, Kai Tak Arena and the retail complex. The atmosphere was electric.
Advertisement
What struck me most was how the area around the sports ground has emerged. New residential towers have risen, a sprawling shopping centre has opened for business and the MTR's
Sung Wong Toi and Kai Tak stations now connect the area to the rest of the city. Nearby, the construction of
transitional public housing and the juxtaposition of old airport runway sites with
the cruise terminal paint a vivid picture of a district in transition.
Since the launch of the Kai Tak Development Plan, the vision for this area has gradually come to life. Today, Kai Tak stands as a modern hub blending sports, arts and tourism, with its sleek aesthetic contrasting sharply with the historical features and ageing charm of the neighbouring
Kowloon City . Past and future converge beneath the shadow of the Lion Rock, showcasing Hong Kong's unique urban diversity.
Kai Tak is just one piece of a larger puzzle. In recent years, the government has rolled out multiple regional development plans, including the
Northern Metropolis and the
Lantau artificial island project . While these initiatives differ in scale and location, they share a common goal: reimagine specific areas through strategic land use and industrial reconfiguration.
However, the success of such developments hinges not just on location but on clear, cohesive planning. Without a well-defined vision, these projects risk becoming little more than clusters of real estate ventures which are devoid of distinctive character. In particular, the Northern Metropolis leaves much to be desired here.
Touted as Hong Kong's new growth engine, the Northern Metropolis is meant to complement the city's industrial strategy. Yet, beyond the
San Tin Technopole and the Lok Ma Chau Loop, the tech-driven vision for the area remains underdeveloped.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's huge multicurrency bond deal oversubscribed by global investors
The Hong Kong government sold HK$27 billion (US$3.44 billion) in multicurrency green and infrastructure bonds to support the development of the Northern Metropolis, boosting the city's reputation as a sustainable finance hub. Advertisement The notes, denominated in Hong Kong dollars, yuan, US dollars and euros, drew strong demand from investors globally amid an uncertain interest rate environment. The sale attracted orders totalling nearly HK$237 billion, translating into subscription ratios of between 3.3 and 12.5 times the size of the bonds, according to a statement from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on Wednesday. The offerings, which fall under the government's sustainable bond programme and a newly established infrastructure bond programme, included a range of maturities of up to 30 years. It was the first time the government offered a 30-year Hong Kong dollar bond, which was also its longest tenor ever. The size of the 20-year and 30-year yuan notes, which were introduced last year, was doubled in response to robust investor demand. The Hong Kong government sold bonds denominated in yuan and US dollars among other currencies on Wednesday. Photo: AFP 'The issuance of green bonds by the Hong Kong government aims to attract and channel market capital to support green projects [and promote] sustainable development in Hong Kong,' said Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po.
RTHK
4 days ago
- RTHK
Half-price MTR rides on July 13
Half-price MTR rides on July 13 All passengers will enjoy half-fare rides on July 13. File photo: RTHK All MTR passengers will enjoy half-fare rides on Sunday, July 13, as part of a rebate arrangement due to its service suspension on the entire Tseung Kwan O line last month. Passengers will enjoy the discount on the MTR, light rail and MTR bus service, as well as cross-border trips running to and from Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations on the East Rail Line, with the Octopus card or QR code tickets in the heavy rail network. In addition, the MTR will offer a free ride to passengers on the Tseung Kwan O line. Passengers who entered or exited stations along the line between May 18 and June 15 with Octopus are entitled to the free ride by June 20. To collect the free ride, passengers will have to register as a member on the MTR's mobile application by June 15. The rail firm will offer the public HK$19.2 million in compensation over the May 22 disruption during the evening rush hour that lasted more than five hours.
RTHK
4 days ago
- RTHK
Half-fare MTR rides on July 13
Half-fare MTR rides on July 13 All passengers will enjoy half-fare rides on July 13. File photo: RTHK All MTR passengers will enjoy half-fare rides on Sunday, July 13, as part of compensation due to its service suspension on the entire Tseung Kwan O line last month. Passengers will enjoy the discount on the MTR, light rail and MTR bus service, as well as cross-border trips running to and from Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations on the East Rail Line, with the Octopus card or QR code tickets in the heavy rail network. In addition, the MTR will offer a free ride to passengers on the Tseung Kwan O line. Passengers who entered or exited stations along the line between May 18 and June 15 with Octopus are entitled to the free ride by June 20. To collect the free ride, passengers will have to register as a member on the MTR's mobile application by June 15. The rail firm will offer the public HK$19.2 million in compensation over the May 22 disruption during the evening rush hour that lasted more than five hours and several other incidents.
