Senior Beijing official starts two-day inspection visit in Hong Kong

Xia Baolong, the director of Beijing's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, arrives in the city for a two-day inspection visit. The trip aims to look at Hong Kong's alignment with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the advancement of the Northern Metropolis.

Xia Baolong arrived in Hong Kong via the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, marking his fifth inspection visits to the city since his tenure as the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office's director. The first stop of Xia's trip was the exhibition centre of Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tseun's new development area, which displays the history and heritage of the site.

Accompanied by Chief Executive John Lee, Xia also inspected the three campus sites within the area for the Northern Metropolis University Town. The Education Bureau says authorities have received 19 letters of intent from local universities wishing to develop in the University Town.

Next, the senior Beijing official visited a light public housing project in Yuen Long, which consists of 2,156 units, and was greeted by Housing Secretary Winnie Ho.

Speaking to the media after the inspection, Ho says Xia asked about the progress of light public housing and met with some residents. The Housing Secretary says she introduced Xia to the building method of light public housing -- modular integrated construction -- where factory-finished apartment modules are manufactured in mainland cities before being transported for assembly.

Xia also visited Yuen Long's Microelectronics Centre, which supports the research, packaging and assembly of modern power semiconductors and 3rd generation electronics.

After lunch, Xia inspected Kwu Chun Estate, a large public housing project in the Kwu Tong North New Development Area. The estate will provide 9,000 units and residents can start moving in between 2026 and 2027.

Another stop of Xia's visit was the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, where he was welcomed by Sun Dong, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry. They examine three completed buildings in the Lok Ma Chau loop -- two laboratory facilities and a talent accommodation.

Asked what Xia mentioned during his inspection, Sun says the director stressed that Hong Kong must grasp the opportunities provided by the National 15th Five-Year Plan.