Hong Kong Development Bureau: Four major areas promote the construction of "Smart Green Northern Metropolis"

On July 9, the Director of the Hong Kong Development Bureau, Ning Hanhao, stated at a legislative council meeting that while the Hong Kong government is accelerating the development of the North District, it is also committed to promoting a smart and green collective transport system, building a smart city, and making good use of blue and green resources to create a "livable, business-friendly, and tourist-friendly" community. "Smart Green North District" covers multiple areas, from city planning, transportation, leisure tourism to the use of technology. In terms of city planning, efforts are being made to make the North District a green and livable urban area. The core planning concept for the new community is to create a "15-minute living circle", emphasizing the integration of various facilities and functions within the community, as well as building a complete pedestrian and cycling network to allow residents to walk or cycle to retail, community, and transportation hubs within 15 minutes. Adequate land is also reserved for leisure, cultural, and welfare facilities, as well as providing quality green spaces. In terms of transportation, the Hung Fuk Bridge/Shac village in the North District will introduce a smart and green collective transport system. The first phase will be approximately 4.5 kilometers long and will connect the main points in the Hung Fuk Bridge new development area, with bidding expected to take place this year and completion by 2031. The government is also actively promoting the deep integration of digital technology and artificial intelligence in the transport sector to enhance the overall efficiency of the transportation network. While ensuring road safety, the government is pushing for the development and application of automated driving on a large scale, and actively promoting the introduction of multiple scenarios of automated driving testing and applications in the North District. In terms of leisure tourism, by making good use of the blue and green ecological resources in the North District, citizens can benefit from the opportunities brought about by the rapid development of the North District while also enjoying its beautiful ecological resources. The North District has rich and diverse blue and green habitats and natural resources, as well as over 200 existing villages rich in history and cultural resources. Measures announced last month under the "Urban-rural integration" initiative include revitalizing characteristic rural buildings, establishing rural cultural paths, improving rural sewage treatment and infrastructure, and setting up a pilot program for the "North District Urban-rural integration fund" with an initial investment of HK$200 million, to create a unique urban landscape in the North District where urban and rural areas coexist and develop. In terms of technology application, the current planning work in the North District includes measures such as "smart travel", "smart living", and "smart infrastructure", which are continuously promoted by relevant policy bureaus and departments; and the Digital Policy Office will provide various digital infrastructure. The government has designated smart lampposts as standard infrastructure in new development areas, and through the installation of appropriate smart devices and collaboration with 5G services in digital technology applications, it provides convenient information services, collects various real-time urban data for analysis, strengthens urban management, and promotes more innovative applications. Currently, the related construction has covered several development projects in the North District, including Lok Tung North and Fanling North new development areas, Fanling Bypass East section, Pat Heung area, Hung Fuk Bridge/Shac village new development area, and Yuen Long South new development area, among others.