Opinion | Why decision on a Northern Metropolis authority can’t be rushed
It all hinges on execution. Detailed public consultations will ensure any such authority serves both economic and society’s needs
But how exactly would such an authority expedite development? What considerations are involved? More importantly, how would it attract investment and address funding shortages in an era of geopolitical tensions and economic downturns?
But the Northern Metropolis is a massive undertaking involving multiple policy bureaus. For instance, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau is tasked with charting the course for innovation and technology development, as well as identifying the land needs. Meanwhile, the Development Bureau prepares the land and the Transport and Logistics Bureau provides transport infrastructure.
From conception to implementation, such projects still often take over a decade. In a fast-changing world where technology evolves rapidly, if bureaus continue to operate in silos – making decisions independently before passing the project along – the development risks becoming outdated even before the work begins.
Establishing a development authority as a statutory body could address this. It would oversee the planning, design, construction and operation of Northern Metropolis projects, minimising redundant processes. By aligning transport infrastructure with the new development area’s timeline, the authority could unlock land potential promptly, boosting investor confidence.