The "Policy Address" proposes to build a northern metropolis covering an area of 300 square kilometers for 2.5 million people to live in, which has aroused hot talk in the city.
The government has put forward such a huge development plan. The process is expected to take more than ten or two decades. Many concepts and details have yet to be clarified.
The development of New Territories North has been seriously lagging behind, and large tracts of land and large numbers of residents have been neglected for a long time.
(Photo by He Baijia)
Wang Jixian, Research Director of the Hong Kong Center of the Greater Bay Area, pointed out in an exclusive interview with "Hong Kong" 01 that the "Northern Metropolitan Area Development Strategy" (hereinafter referred to as the "Northern District Strategy") is a rare planning document in Hong Kong. The neglected New Territories North will become the main development direction in the future.
However, he reminded the government to draw lessons from the past when planning the northern metropolitan area to avoid the emergence of "tragic cities."
Wang Jixian recalled that around the 1960s, the colonial government began planning and developing new towns in the New Territories, including Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan, Tai Po, and Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long and Tuen Mun. "I hope that employment and residence can be moved north. "At that time, there were many factories near the northwestern New Territories. The development of "Tuen Yuan Tian" was to support blue-collar families. "The idea of balancing work and housing and reducing commuting was all intended to be realized in the three new towns." Everyone knows that "Tun Yuan Tian" is far away from the urban area and is isolated. In addition, "Inland reform and opening up, Shenzhen established a special zone, many factories and enterprises went to Guangdong, Hong Kong lost its manufacturing industry, people in this place I had to go back to Kowloon and Hong Kong Island to find a job, and the commute time was lengthened again."
"The entire plan is completely in vain, and the northern part of the New Territories has not achieved real development." Wang Jixian sighed.
Residents in these areas have long been forced to endure problems such as "separation of work and residence," long commutes and insufficient community facilities.
Especially in Tin Shui Wai, due to the concentration of public housing tenants in the district, the district has a high poverty rate, high CSSA rate, lack of industry and backward transportation infrastructure, and it was once named a "sorrowful city."
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As the epitome of the lagging development of New Territories North, the "City of Sadness" reveals the deep-seated problems of urban planning, which obviously needs to be examined and reflected.
In the construction of the northern metropolitan area, a "tragic city" cannot be recreated. It must bring new possibilities to the lives of Hong Kong citizens and the future of Hong Kong's economy.
Urban planning needs to be comprehensive and systematic. Whether it is transportation infrastructure required for daily life, industries that provide jobs, or cooperation with neighboring cities and regions, these are the directions for deepening planning when New Territories North becomes a northern metropolis.
For details, please read the 292th "Hong Kong 01" Electronic Weekly Newsletter (November 22, 2021) "
Northern Metropolis: Cold Thinking under Hot Spots
".
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