LegCo completes Northern Metropolis bill scrutiny
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Legislative Council completed scrutiny of the Northern Metropolis Development Bill on August 21, with the Development Bureau defending the need for a dedicated legal framework alongside policy support for the large and urgent project. Officials said the bill is designed only for the Northern Metropolis at this stage and is not intended to be extended to other parts of Hong Kong for now. Where legal changes are unsuitable for use only within the zone, the government plans to amend territory-wide laws instead, including the Inland Revenue Ordinance later this year. The administration also said detailed implementation will be set out in subsidiary legislation, while related citywide drafting work is expected to be completed next year.
Key Points
- Development Bureau Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office head So Wai-sze said the project is broad, urgent and special, requiring both dedicated legislation and policy measures.
- So said the current bill focuses on legal streamlining and major policy matters, and is not being expanded beyond the Northern Metropolis for now.
- Officials submitted a preview of subsidiary legislation to lawmakers, but said it can only take effect after the main bill completes statutory procedures
- The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau will propose Inland Revenue Ordinance amendments later this year where changes should apply across Hong Kong.
- Permanent Secretary for Development Doris Ho Pui-ling said the government prefers a unified tax policy, so no separate Northern Metropolis tax chapter is planned
Why It Matters
The approach shows the government is trying to speed up Northern Metropolis development without removing all existing checks, such as public participation and Town Planning Board oversight. It also suggests that any tax incentives linked to the project may ultimately be opened to government-recognised companies across Hong Kong, rather than being confined to one district