The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Xia Baolong, is scheduled to visit Hong Kong on June 16 and 17 for an inspection focused on the city's alignment with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the development of the Northern Metropolis, according to the HKSAR Government.
The Northern Metropolis is a large-scale development plan covering approximately 30,000 hectares across the New Territories, designed to create a new city centre closely integrated with mainland China's Greater Bay Area. The project encompasses housing, industrial parks, and transport links and is one of the most significant land-use initiatives in Hong Kong in decades. It is widely viewed as central to the city's long-term economic direction and its physical integration with Shenzhen and other Pearl River Delta cities.
Xia serves as the director of both the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council — the most senior Beijing official with direct oversight of Hong Kong affairs. His visit marks the latest in a series of trips by senior mainland officials to the city since cross-border travel restrictions were fully lifted following the pandemic.
Chief Executive John Lee welcomed the upcoming visit, stating that the HKSAR Government would provide full support and facilitation to ensure a smooth inspection. Lee also expressed gratitude for Xia's continued attention to Hong Kong, according to the government statement.
The inspection comes as Hong Kong works to align its development agenda with Beijing's 15th Five-Year Plan, which is expected to set national priorities from 2026 to 2030. The HKSAR Government this week launched a public consultation on its first-ever Five-Year Plan for the city's own economic and social development, covering areas including innovation, finance, housing, and cross-boundary connectivity.
Xia Baolong, a former party secretary of Zhejiang Province and a veteran of the United Front system, was appointed to his current post overseeing Hong Kong and Macao affairs in 2023. Since taking office, he has made several inspection visits to Hong Kong, including trips focused on the implementation of the national security legislation and the performance of district councils following the 2023 overhaul of the local governance system.
The visit also takes place amid ongoing efforts by Hong Kong to reinforce its role as an intermediary between mainland China and international markets, particularly in the financial services and technology sectors. Hong Kong officials have been actively promoting the city's business environment abroad in recent months, including trade missions to Europe and Southeast Asia.
Sources: HKSAR Government
