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Hong Kong Says Northern Metropolis Laws Will Run Alongside Environmental Rules
Authorities said dedicated fast-track legislation for the Northern Metropolis will operate alongside the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance. Contractors must meet standards under both sets of rules simultaneously. The clarification followed a Monday meeting focused on construction noise permits.
Jul 13, 9:49 AM·1m read1 source
South China Morning PostAudio version
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Hong Kong authorities said dedicated laws to accelerate the Northern Metropolis project will not override the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance. South China Morning Post reported that the two frameworks will operate in parallel. Tam Cheuk-wai, assistant director of the Environmental Protection Department, stated at the meeting that contractors must comply with noise and environmental standards from both regulations at the same time.
He was responding to a direct question on whether the new rules would supersede the ordinance. The government-appointed Advisory Council on the Environment met on Monday with streamlining procedures for construction noise permits inside the Northern Metropolis as its main agenda item. The development sits near the border with mainland China and covers 30,000 hectares.
The government had earlier unveiled proposed legislation containing six main subsidiary laws intended to remove bottlenecks in the project. The Northern Metropolis plan seeks to convert the area into an economic growth engine and major housing hub. Measures under the legislation include establishing statutory firms, speeding up land resumption payments, and adopting new building technologies.
