Hong Kong Experts: Northern Metropolis Laws Won't Weaken Planners' Power

New land-use laws for Hong Kong's massive Northern Metropolis project will not reduce the authority of the city's official planning board, legal experts say. They argue the laws are meant to speed up development, not bypass oversight. The experts were commenting on six new proposed laws revealed this week. The government says these rules are needed to remove delays in the huge New Territories development plan. However, the experts also urged the government to set clear performance targets. They said specific key performance indicators (KPIs) are necessary to build stronger confidence in the project from investors and the public. The Northern Metropolis is a long-term plan to build a new economic hub near Hong Kong's border with mainland China.