On the 4th, Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, stated in a speech at the Legislative Council meeting that the government will strive to develop an "international innovation and technology city" in the northern metropolitan area, create a new development pattern of "southern finance, northern innovation and technology" in Hong Kong, and further promote the coordinated development of innovation and technology industries between Hong Kong and other cities in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. Sun Dong stated that Hong Kong and Shenzhen will strive to implement exclusive cross-border policy measures in the Hetao area, allowing for convenient flow of personnel, materials, funds, and data within the region. They are committed to becoming an international advanced technology innovation planning pilot zone and opening up experimental fields for institutional and policy innovation, in response to the requirements for high-quality development and technological self-reliance in the national "15th Five Year Plan" proposal. Sun Dong said that the Hetao Hong Kong Park and Xintian Technology City shoulder the important mission of promoting technological development in Hong Kong and even the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. They are important carriers to support Hong Kong's future innovation and technology development, and bring important opportunities to promote Hong Kong's high-quality development. Lin Zhiwen, Deputy Director of the Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, stated in a speech at the Legislative Council meeting that the Development Bureau will launch a consultation on the exclusive legislation for speeding up the development of the northern city in the first quarter of 2026, in order to formulate simplified legal procedures, accelerate development and construction, and promote the entry of industries. The SAR government will propose and adopt a diversified development model with innovative thinking, and accelerate the development of the northern capital by combining a proactive government and an efficient market. Lin Zhiwen said that in order to enable enterprises to settle down as soon as possible, the Development Bureau has recently launched administrative reform measures to accelerate the approval of private projects in Beidu, including setting time limits for key approval processes and a high-level intervention mechanism. Lin Zhiwen stated that the SAR government will continue to closely communicate on the development of the northern metropolitan area through the "Special Task Force for Coordinating the Development Strategy of the Northern Metropolitan Area" co chaired by the Deputy Secretary for Finance and the Executive Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen, to facilitate the integration of Guangdong and Hong Kong, and to jointly discuss cross-border development and construction matters. (New Society)