Financial secretary offers more details on Northern Metropolis development
發佈日期: 2025-09-18 21:45
TVB News
Senior officials today offered more explanations about Chief Executive John Lee's policy address.
The Northern Metropolis is a highlight of the policy blueprint. The policy address revealed some statutory industry park bodies will be established to oversee different industrial parks, funded through dedicated channels.
Elaborating on the plan, officials say it aims to expedite the development of the mega project, but stress the funding procedures will be led by officials, with participation from the public.
In order to speed up the Northern Metropolis project, the government will enact dedicated legislation to simplify statutory procedures, such as setting up statutory park companies with earmarked funding.
The legislation is expected to pass and take effect next year. So does that mean the companies will be able to receive funding without having to seek approval from the legislature?
"On the dedicated funding channel, it has to be approved by the Legislative Council," said Financial Secretary Paul Chan. "The funding proposal has to be scrutinised by the legislature. We have to be flexible. We have to be speedy. After we have obtained the funding, we will go to assign to different industry park companies. These companies will have the flexibility to make use of the funding
"I expect that there will be representatives from the industry and the general public in the board of directors of the industry park companies."
On profit sharing, Chan said all those companies will be wholly owned by the government, so their earnings will go back to the administration.
Meanwhile, another press conference was held to shed light on health-related measures. Student suicide cases in recent years have caused concern about pupils' mental health.
To strengthen support for those in need, the government will regularise the three-tier emergency mechanism in secondary schools and extend it on a trial basis from primary four to six students.
Pupils with higher suicidal risk will be identified and referred to psychiatric specialist services.
Cecilia Fan, Under Secretary for Health, said: "We want to encourage schools, parents and members of the community to work together so as to help us provide cross-disciplinary support, identify and support students at risk."
The Health Bureau said as of the end of last month, a total of 287 cases had been referred to the Social Welfare Department, while there were 114 serious cases who sought medical help from specialists at the Hospital Authority.
