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Director's Message
Director's Message

The Year 2022 was a year of challenges and prominence.
After almost three years of the pandemic, Hong Kong is on the
way to full normalcy. All sectors of society are eagerly looking
forward to Hong Kong’s emergence from the pandemic and
the revival of our economy. During this period, the Planning
Department has been actively supporting the Government
in implementing various measures and pressing ahead with
planning projects, with a view to meeting the public’s demand
for housing and various land uses, integrating into the
national development, and enhancing the competitiveness of
Hong Kong.

The Department is dedicated to developing Hong Kong
into a liveable, competitive and sustainable Asia’s
th
World City through planning initiatives. The 14 Five-Year
Plan has confirmed Hong Kong’s positioning of the “eight centres”, and national strategies such as the
Greater Bay Area Development and the Belt and Road Initiative have injected impetus to the growth
of Hong Kong. Our development strategies are to reinforce Hong Kong’s position as an international
financial centre and strengthen our status as a provider for other professional services, and to promote
the development of innovation and technology industry while creating a liveable environment. During
the year, we continued to work at full speed in collaboration with the Civil Engineering and Development
Department (CEDD) to take forward two key development projects, namely the Kau Yi Chau Artificial
Islands and the Northern Metropolis. We have already concluded the public engagement activities for
the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands at the end of March this year, and provided preliminary proposals on
reclamation extent, broad land use, strategic transport infrastructure and possible financing options.
The study team is analysing the comments and recommendations received so as to further develop
the preliminary proposals. During the year, we also launched the respective planning and engineering
studies for areas within the Northern Metropolis, including San Tin Technopole, New Territories North
New Town and Man Kam To, as well as Lau Fau Shan/ Tsim Bei Tsui/ Pak Nai areas and Ma Tso Lung
area. These two key development projects serve as the important engines driving Hong Kong’s future
development and will expand the development capacity of Hong Kong.

The strategic goal of one of the building blocks of “Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and
Strategy Transcending 2030” is to enhance the liveability in Hong Kong, a compact high-density city,
by advocating for improvements in the quality and quantity of open spaces. To achieve this vision, the
Department commissioned the “Reimagining Public Spaces in Hong Kong – Feasibility Study” to explore
trends in open space development and understand public aspirations. The Study has also examined
issues such as the planning standards and design guidelines for open spaces. The findings of the
Study are expected to set a positive example for other government departments and the private sector,
fostering continued collaboration to provide higher-quality open spaces and create a more liveable
environment in Hong Kong.
3 PLANNING DEPARTMENT | ANNUAL REPORT 2022/2023