On October 28, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the HKSAR Government jointly organized a visit by foreign consuls general and representatives in Hong Kong to the Northern Metropolis. Commissioner Cui Jianchun, Chief Secretary for Administration Mr. Chan Kwok-ki, Deputy Commissioner Hua You, and representatives of relevant departments of the HKSAR Government including Under Secretary for Development Mr. LAM Chi-man, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Ms CHEONG Man-lei, and Director General of Investment Promotion Ms Lau Hai-suen, as well as foreign consuls general and consular officials in Hong Kong, totaling nearly 100 participants, attended the event.

In his remarks, Commissioner Cui stressed that the Northern Metropolis is put in an important position in Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan, and serves as a new engine for Hong Kong’s future development. The Northern Metropolis will drive the high-quality development of Hong Kong in its integration into and service to China’s overall national development agenda. He expressed the hope that the foreign consular corps would understand the Northern Metropolis with greater clarity through the visit, seize the development opportunities presented by it, and experience firsthand the successful implementation of One Country, Two Systems policy in Hong Kong.

Mr. Chan Kwok-ki stated that the Northern Metropolis focuses on development in innovation and technology, education, industry and other areas, and has risen from a land development project to the level of a national strategy of China. It will continue to create opportunities for global enterprises and talents.

In the guided tour around the Visitor Centre of the Hetao Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP), a talent accommodation building in the HSITP, and the Community Liaison Centre of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area, the foreign consular corps came to understand the vast potential of the Northern Metropolis, and agreed that the visit was impressive and conducive to a comprehensive understanding of the planning and development prospects that the Northern Metropolis can offer. They expressed their willingness to seize the cooperation opportunities of the Northern Metropolis and help their respective countries achieve more substantive outcomes in exchanges and cooperation in Hong Kong.