Policy Address 2026 | The Roundtable for Practical Governance Urges the Relocation of the Former Chief Executive’s Office to the Northern Metropolis, Citing Far-Reaching Strategic Diplomatic and Promotional Significance

The consultation for the Policy Address has begun. Legislative Council members and political groups have been submitting suggestions to Chief Executive John Lee (Li Ka-chiu) one after another, and many focus on the development of the Northern Metropolis. The Realists Roundtable suggests relocating the former Chief Executive’s Office to a core landmark building within the Northern Metropolis, believing that this move can not only optimize resource allocation but also carries profound strategic and diplomatic as well as publicity significance.

The Realists Roundtable says that relocating to the Northern Metropolis can effectively reduce the opportunity cost of renting prime land in the city center, or the high expenses for maintaining historical monuments, in line with the government’s “prudent financial management” principles. In addition, when the Chief Executive currently hosts foreign envoys, business leaders, or international visitors at this location, guests can directly observe and examine the construction progress and future plans of the entire Northern Metropolis. This is not only conducive to people-to-people diplomacy, but also allows external affairs reception to be perfectly integrated with national development and the development of the Northern Metropolis, thereby unleashing powerful synergistic effects.

Policy Address 2026｜Tam Chun-kok Advocates Exploring Joint Development with Hong Kong and the Nine Cities of the Greater Bay Area on a “Joint Industrial Park”

As for Tam Chun-kok, a Legislative Council member from New Territories North, he suggests that the government make good use of the space created by Northern Metropolis-specific legislation to connect the flow of people, logistics, data, and capital—the “four flows.” He also proposes jointly formulating a “Joint Policy Package” with the nine cities of the Greater Bay Area to study co-developing a “Joint Industrial Park,” establishing a “Joint Capital Pool,” and driving the landing of market projects, so as to achieve complementary strengths. Tam also hopes to replicate the “Hong Kong Railway Standards” in construction such as roads and bridges, incorporate them into national standards, and thereby reduce construction costs and speed up completion. For medical support, Tam advocates the early establishment of a new “New Territories North Hospital Network” to integrate resources and improve specialist services. At the same time, rural infrastructure must be enhanced to promote urban-rural integration, and in tandem with the commissioning of new border crossings, surrounding transport and commercial circulation should be optimized simultaneously.

Policy Address 2026｜Kong Ho-ming Urges Attention to Old District Redevelopment Issues While Developing the Northern Metropolis

Kong Ho-ming, an Election Committee sector Legislative Council member, calls on the government to pay attention to old district redevelopment issues while developing the Northern Metropolis, so as to prevent residents from feeling like things are neglected on one side. He suggests extending the “Revitalising Historic Buildings Partnership Programme” to privately owned old buildings, allowing owners to carry out self-renovation under safety conditions, preserving the arcade and stairwell features of tong lau, and transforming old districts into “check-in” hotspots. He also recommends a comprehensive review of community halls in districts with low usage and school premises left idle due to school closures, and turning them into multi-purpose venues such as providing health talks for seniors, temporary childcare, and respite spaces for caregivers, so as to avoid large-scale demolition and reconstruction.