Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced in today's policy address that the Northern Metropolis development is transitioning from blueprint to tangible implementation, with the three university towns at San Tin, Hung Shui Kiu, and Ta Kwu Ling covering a combined campus area of approximately 300 hectares. Including supporting technology zones, industrial parks, and residential communities, the total planned area exceeds 1,000 hectares.

Lee stated that Guangzhou-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited and San Tin Technopole Limited have been invited to join the development efforts, participating in the university town construction to accelerate project progress. Tender applications from tertiary institutions to build campus facilities will be invited within this year, advancing the development of the Hung Shui Kiu university town campus area.

The Chief Executive also confirmed that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute, located within the Lok Ma Chau Loop Hong Kong Park, is now fully operational. The facility is wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR government and operated by the University of Hong Kong, working in tandem with the Shenzhen Park to drive medical innovation. The institute houses a biobank co-managed by the Hospital Authority and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, facilitating clinical research and data sharing.

Additionally, Lee revealed that over 100 enterprises have already established operations in the Lok Ma Chau Loop area. The tender results for the first batch of eight land parcels will be announced by the end of this year, with both physical infrastructure and financial support secured in tandem. The Northern Metropolis is rapidly shifting from planning stage into a phase of substantive delivery and growth.