From October 22 to 23, Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), led a delegation to the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC). The delegation aimed to draw inspiration from BMC’s practices in urban planning, construction, management and industrial development, with the view to promote the development of the Northern Metropolis in Hong Kong SAR.

The Hong Kong SAR delegation comprised more than 30 members from the government and various sectors. They included officials from the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, Development Bureau, Housing Bureau, Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, Transport and Logistics Bureau, Education Bureau, the Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office, as well as heads of public institutions, and representatives from business, banking and higher education sectors.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, BMC has moved from building an urban framework to comprehensively enhancing its functions and quality, with all areas of work gaining strong momentum. The delegation visited the BMC Planning Exhibition Hall, “Two Zones” Exhibition and Reception Hall, the Beijing Library, and the Tongzhou Campus of Renmin University of China. They were briefed on the planning, construction and management of the BMC, and gained a thorough understanding of its experience and practices in promoting high-quality industrial development, bringing in private capital for urban construction, and balancing urban development with ecological conservation.

Officials and representatives from the government, business and education sectors commended BMC’s achievements in planning, construction and management, noting that its experience offers valuable insights for the planning, management and industrial development of the Northern Metropolis. This visit proved highly fruitful, with relevant experience to be tailored to Hong Kong’s local context in future work.