Northern Metropolis fast-track laws will ‘run parallel’ with environmental rules

Dedicated laws designed to fast-track Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis project will not override the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, the authorities have said.

The remarks on Monday followed a meeting of the government-appointed Advisory Council on the Environment, where the main agenda was streamlining procedures and requirements for construction noise permits within the development near the border with mainland China.

“The Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance and the dedicated legislation for the Northern Metropolis will operate in parallel, requiring contractors to comply with the noise and environmental standards of both regulations simultaneously,” said Gary Tam Cheuk-wai, the Environmental Protection Department’s assistant director.

Tam was responding to a question after the meeting about whether the new rules would override the ordinance.

The government earlier unveiled a plan for proposed legislation with six main subsidiary laws designed to remove bottlenecks in the Northern Metropolis, a plan to transform 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) into an economic growth engine and a major housing hub.

The laws include establishing statutory firms, measures to speed up land resumption payments, and adopting new building technologies.