Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) and Chair Professor of Geomatics, and Dr GUO Jian, Project Fellow of RILS, penned an article in Hong Kong Economic Times on 1 September 2025, offering an in-depth discussion on the planned population density of the Northern Metropolis.
The authors believe that the development of the Northern Metropolis will help release a substantial amount of land, for building a new, liveable and business-friendly area with a residential population of about 2.5 million in the northern New Territories adjacent to Shenzhen. This would break Hong Kong’s long-standing “south over north” spatial development pattern, promote the integration between northern Hong Kong and southern Shenzhen, and support the construction of an international innovation and technology hub in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area. It would also serve China’s national strategy for technological self-reliance and strength, carrying profound significance for both regional and national development.
In terms of population density, the two scholars consider that the Northern Metropolis has the potential for accommodating more people. Hong Kong has a land area of approximately 1,090 square kilometres (excluding inland water areas) and a population of about 7.52 million in 2024, making it one of the most densely populated regions in the world. The Northern Metropolis currently has a population of around 1 million, with a density of only 3,488 people per square kilometre. Even if its population increases to 2.5 million in the future, the density will only be 8,333 people per square kilometre, far lower than some of the other urban areas. Excluding country parks, the population density of the Northern Metropolis remains relatively low among Hong Kong’s eighteen districts.
They pointed out that, the Northern Metropolis should be cherished as it is the last large tract of land in Hong Kong available for large-scale development, and its population density should be appropriately increased to improve land use efficiency and provide resources for future development. For example, if each square kilometre could accommodate an additional 2,000 people, this would accommodate a population of about 500,000, which is equivalent to that of the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands project, and could save approximately HK$580 billion in construction costs. Of course, in the long run, Hong Kong still requires land created through land reclamation to support sustainable development.
Online coverage:
Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3I0tnRM (Chinese only)
| Research Units | Research Institute for Land and Space |
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