Hong Kong finance chief stresses flexibility in pitch for Northern Metropolis

Hong Kong's Financial Secretary, Paul Chan Mo-po, has made a direct pitch to global businesses, offering a "flexible and innovative" suite of incentives to attract investment into the ambitious Northern Metropolis project. Speaking at a Hong Kong Trade Development Council seminar in Beijing, Chan stated the administration is prepared to negotiate tailored packages including land access, tax breaks, financial support, and co-investment opportunities. The goal is to draw in enterprises with cutting-edge technologies and talent, particularly for the cross-border innovation and technology cooperation zone in Hetao, which is designed to streamline the movement of personnel, resources, capital, and data between Hong Kong and mainland China.

The announcement underscores Hong Kong's strategic push to solidify its role as an international I&T hub within the Greater Bay Area framework. Chan's meeting with Beijing's top Hong Kong affairs official, Xia Baolong, who reaffirmed central government support, adds significant political weight to the initiative. This move signals a proactive, deal-making approach from Hong Kong to boost its economic competitiveness, directly linking the success of its first local five-year plan to attracting foreign and mainland capital into this new development corridor.