The Legislative Council passed the “Northern Metropolitan Area Development Bill” in the third reading. The authorities aim to facilitate the entry into force of measures in the first quarter of next year

The Zhitong Finance App learned that the Hong Kong Legislative Council passed the “Northern Metropolitan Area Development Bill” and the amendments proposed by the government in the third reading. The regulations specify six policy areas to facilitate the development of Beidu, including simplifying urban planning procedures, speeding up payment of land receipt compensation, and simplifying construction noise permit applications. The draft also authorizes the Chief Executive, together with the Executive Council, to enact subsidiary legislation in six areas and enact implementation details.

The Secretary for the Hong Kong Development Council, Ning Hanhao, said that subsidiary legislation will be submitted to the Legislative Council in January next year to seek the entry into force of relevant facilitation measures in the first quarter of next year. In the future, as the construction of the North Capital enters various stages, new laws or amendments will be introduced in due course and as needed. She stressed that not all of the current laws applicable to Beidu need to be incorporated into regulations. Regulations relating to urban governance, transportation, and labor in Beidu will continue to be handled by existing relevant regulations.

Ning Hanhao pointed out that the regulations will simplify city planning procedures, but the city planning council will continue to do a good job of checking, and the simplified measures will not apply to the Beidu Conservation Area; as for simplifying construction noise permit applications, the new arrangements have not changed noise control standards to ensure that residents are protected.

She also pointed out that if the relevant wall demolition and loosening measures should be applied to the whole of Hong Kong, the more appropriate approach is to enact or amend Hong Kong-wide laws, such as tax incentives. Since they also apply to enterprises outside of Beidu, the government will revise the measures to implement the Inland Revenue Ordinance.