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Leopold Chen

Natalie Wong

Beijing’s top official overseeing Hong Kong affairs will visit the city on Tuesday and Wednesday and review the progress of the Northern Metropolis as part of his itinerary, with the chief executive expected to join him as he visits a cross-border technology cooperation zone.
The Hong Kong government announced on Monday morning that Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, would visit the city for two days.
“[Xia will] inspect Hong Kong’s alignment with the national 15th five-year plan and the advancement of the Northern Metropolis,” it said, referring to the megaproject to turn 30,000 hectares (74,131 acres) of land into an economic growth engine and housing hub.
The top official’s visit comes just a day after the launch of a two-month public consultation on Hong Kong’s first five-year plan, which aims to integrate the city into broader national development.
Sources said Xia aimed to assess the local government’s progress in drafting the plan and explore ways to strengthen cooperation among Greater Bay Area cities.

“The Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone in Lok Ma Chau will be one of his stops,” an insider said, adding that Xia would be accompanied by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.
The Hetao project, which operates on a “one zone, two parks” model, is a flagship cross-boundary cooperation platform for technological innovation.
The government said on Monday that Lee expressed his gratitude for Xia’s continuous support and attention to Hong Kong, adding that the local government would make efforts to ensure the trip went smoothly.
Legislative Council president Starry Lee Wai-king said Xia’s visit reflected Beijing’s support for Hong Kong’s development.
“This fully demonstrates the importance and support the central government attaches to Hong Kong’s formulation of its first five-year plan,” she said.
Kenneth Lau Ip-keung, chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk, said Beijing was concerned about Hong Kong’s development and pledged that his rural body would continue to serve as a bridge in advancing the Northern Metropolis megaproject.
“The development of the 30,000-hectare northern metropolitan area will inevitably affect existing residents and businesses. We will continue to play this (bridging) role and help the government coordinate these issues.
“The central government is very concerned about Hong Kong’s future development, especially regarding economic and social development. With the progress from chaos to order and from order to prosperity over the past few years, everyone hopes for progress in the economy and people’s livelihoods in the future. Both governments are very concerned about this.”
This will be Xia’s fourth visit to the bay area this year.
In late March, he conducted a five-day fact-finding trip to three mainland Chinese cities – Guangzhou, Zhaoqing and Foshan – to explore ways of deepening Hong Kong’s integration into the national blueprint.
Xia also conducted research on how the cities could deeply participate in the construction of the bay area and better serve the national development strategy.
The bay area is Beijing’s initiative to turn Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in neighbouring Guangdong province into an integrated economic and business hub.
Xia also undertook a four-day research tour across Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou in April.
Earlier this month, Xia visited the Hengqin cooperation zone in Guangdong province’s Zhuhai, inspecting a university town, research institutes and innovation and technology companies as part of a four-day trip.


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Hong Kong politics

Beijing’s point man for Hong Kong to visit city on Tuesday, check on Northern Metropolis

Xia Baolong (left), director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, shakes hands with Chief Executive John Lee during a previous visit to the city. Photo: Elson Li

The Northern Metropolis megaproject aims to turn 30,000 hectares of land into an economic growth engine and housing hub. Photo: Eugene Lee

Xia will stop at the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone as part of the trip. Photo: Eugene Lee

Sources have said Xia will also look into how to improve cooperation mechanisms among Greater Bay Area cities. Photo: Eugene Lee

Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs visits Hengqin in push for integration

HKMAO's Xia Baolong (second left) watches as a robot demonstrates its skills.  Photo: Handout

Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai (left) joins Xia Baolong (third right) on the tour of the zone. Photo: Handout

Beijing’s Xia Baolong, top energy official hold talks with CLP’s Michael Kadoorie

Top Beijing official Xia Baolong (centre right) meets CLP Holdings chairman Michael Kadoorie (centre left). Photo: Handout

Xia Baolong also met with Benjamin Keswick, executive chairman of Jardine Matheson, on Thursday. Photo: Handout

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Hong Kong

Politics

Hong Kong government says Xia Baolong to gauge city’s alignment with national five-year plan and development of Northern Metropolis


Hong Kong government says Xia Baolong to gauge city’s alignment with national five-year plan and development of Northern Metropolis.


Beijing’s point man for Hong Kong to visit city on Tuesday, check on Northern Metropolis

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Hong Kong government says Xia Baolong to gauge city’s alignment with national five-year plan and development of Northern Metropolis

Hong Kong government says Xia Baolong to gauge city’s alignment with national five-year plan and development of Northern Metropolis