Hong Kong, 1 April 2024 – Philippine Consul General Germinia V. Aguilar-Usudan, together with other Consuls General and members of the Consular Corps in Hong Kong, participated in a half-day tour of the “Northern Metropolis” on 13 March 2024, organized by the Northern Metropolis Coordination Office (NMCO) of the Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Government.

The Northern Metropolis (NM) is a strategic development plan seeking to transform the northern part of the New Territories, covering Yuen Long and North Districts, into a holistic metropolis with a total land area of 30,000 hectares. The NM is divided into four (4) major zones: 1) High-end Professional Services and Logistics Hub; 2) Innovation and Technology Zone; 3) Boundary Commerce and Industry Zone; and 4) Blue and Green Recreation, Tourism and Conservation Circle. During the tour, the Consuls General and other members of the consular corps were provided with a glimpse of the major development plan of Hong Kong near the Shenzhen border and possible business opportunities it offers.

The NM is projected as a new engine for Hong Kong’s future growth, expecting to provide about 500,000 new housing units, create 500,000 new jobs and accommodate a population of 2.5 million.