Open tender launched for Hung Shui Kiu land development, closing July 3, 2026, aims to expedite Northern Metropolis growth.

First pilot area under large-scale land disposal in Northern Metropolis to launch open tender under two-envelope approach tomorrow

The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (December 29) that an open tender under a two-envelope approach will be launched tomorrow for the pilot area under large-scale land disposal in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area (HSK) in the Northern Metropolis (NM). The tender invitation will last for a period of about six months, closing on July 3, 2026 (Friday).

Large-scale land disposal is one of the innovative and diversified development approaches in the NM. Under this approach, the Government would identify sizeable parcels of land including residential and industry sites with commercial value, as well as public facility sites, for integrated development by successful tenderers. This aims to better leverage market forces to expedite the development of the NM.

This pilot area located in HSK has a total area of about 11 hectares, comprising three residential sites and three Enterprise and Technology Park (E&TP) sites (see Annex). Together, they can supply about 156 000 square metres of domestic floor area (i.e. about 3 120 flats, if calculated based on an average flat size of 50 square metres of gross floor area), and about 280 000 square metres of industry floor area.

The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said, "As the first pilot area under large-scale land disposal undergoing tender in the NM, the HSK pilot area represents a significant step forward. The latest tender arrangements have incorporated market views, including the addition of one residential site, reducing the burden of road construction, allowing payment of land premium in stages, independent land leases for different lots, extension of building covenant to seven years, etc. These serve to increase the project's financial attractiveness, facilitate investments from different background to form consortiums, and alleviate the cash flow pressure of developers."

She continued, "The 'two-envelope approach' echoes the 'industry-oriented' theme of the NM. The weighting for land premium is only 30 per cent; the remaining 70 per cent is for non-premium proposal where the assessment criteria focus on the development of the E&TP sites, including whether strategic industries are developed, whether leading enterprises are introduced, development speed, investment scale, employment opportunities to be created, etc. Through this industry-oriented tender and a series of facilitation measures, we hope to attract high-quality enterprises to establish their presence in the HSK pilot area, promoting growth of the industry chains."

Under the large-scale land disposal approach, the successful tenderer has to complete the site formation for the pilot area and construct some public facilities, including an open space, a pedestrian street and a footpath, handing them back to the Government upon completion. The successful tenderer will also have to complete the development of residential sites within the pilot area. Besides, the tenderer must tender for the development and operation of one E&TP site (i.e. HSK Town Lot No. 19), and can opt to develop and operate the other one or two E&TP sites (i.e. HSK Town Lot Nos. 23 and 24) at the same time. A tenderer willing to tender for and operate more industry sites will get higher marks. The purchasers of the E&TP sites winning the tender will be required to enter into service deeds with the Government, submit performance guarantees and arrange for bank bonds, ensuring the implementation of the non-premium proposals.

The assessment criteria will be detailed in the tender documents to be published tomorrow.

Flexible land premium payment arrangement

The successful tenderer can elect for paying 25 per cent of the land premium within 28 days from the notification of tender award, settling the remaining 75 per cent of land premium within three years from the notification of tender award with no interest charged during this period. Another flexible arrangement is allowing tenderers that has elected to pay land premium in stages to surrender land within the NM that the Government intends to resume, for offsetting at most 75 per cent of the land premium. The Lands Department will announce the list of eligible land tomorrow, among which a tenderer may propose in his tender surrendering the lots he owns. The Government will calculate the value of surrendered lots based on the applicable ex-gratia compensation rates for land resumption, for offsetting the land premium for the HSK pilot area.

Ms Linn said, "The two aforementioned arrangements related to land premium payment are measures aiming for removing barriers and restrictions as mentioned in this year's Policy Address. They can reduce the cash flow pressure of enterprises in land development, thereby promoting their participation in the NM project."

Land lease and other arrangements

Individual residential sites and E&TP sites will have independent land leases for execution, and can be held by different purchasers being members of the consortium submitting a bid. The building covenant in all the leases is seven years. Besides, if the two adjacent E&TP sites (i.e. HSK Town Lot Nos. 23 and 24) are awarded, the Government will consider accepting an application for lease modification from the purchaser for joint development, for a more holistic development and operation of the industry sites.

The tender documents will also specify the completion dates of infrastructures adjacent to the pilot area (such as roads, water supply / sewerage facilities), and provide that if the Government's delay in construction of such infrastructures has caused a delay to the development of the pilot area, the Government may favourably consider extending the building covenant without requiring payment of additional premium.

The DEVB has already established a dedicated project supervision office chaired by the Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning & Lands), providing end-to-end facilitation service to private development projects in the NM in order to speed up their implementation. The HSK pilot area is no doubt a signature project.

Land sale documents for the lots including the Explanatory Statement, the Information Statement, the Forms of Tender, the Tender Notice, the Conditions of Sale and the sale plans will be made available tomorrow for public downloading from the Lands Department's website (www.landsd.gov.hk). Hard copies of the sale plans may also be purchased at the Survey and Mapping Office, Lands Department, 6th Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, from tomorrow until the close of the tender. Details of the tender will be gazetted tomorrow.

Source: AI-found images

CHP investigates imported Mpox case

​The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (December 29) that it is investigating an imported Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) case. The public is reminded to be vigilant and avoid close physical contact with persons suspected of contracting Mpox. High-risk target groups are strongly advised to receive the Mpox vaccinations.

The case involves a male. He developed rash on December 18 while overseas, followed by skin ulcers and a fever. After returning to Hong Kong on December 25, he attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Tin Shui Wai Hospital. Due to persistent symptoms, he attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Pok Oi Hospital on December 27, and was arranged to admit to Tuen Mun Hospital for isolation. His sample tested positive for the Mpox virus upon laboratory testing by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP. The patient is currently in stable condition.

According to the patient, he has not received the Mpox vaccination. He stayed overseas throughout the entire incubation period and had a history of high-risk exposure during that period. No epidemiological linkages between this case and other confirmed cases recorded in Hong Kong earlier could be identified so far. The CHP is continuing its epidemiological investigation into the case and will report it to the World Health Organization.

Hong Kong has put in place the Preparedness and Response Plan for Mpox since June 2022 and activated the alert response level under the Plan after the first confirmed case of Mpox in September of the same year. The CHP has implemented a series of measures (including enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, public education and vaccination), which have been effective in preventing local outbreaks of Mpox in the past three years.

Since 2022, a total of 84 Mpox cases (67 local and 17 imported) have been recorded in Hong Kong, of which 16 cases were recorded this year. All the patients were male. Epidemiological investigations revealed that most cases had history of high-risk sexual behaviour, including having sex with strangers or without wearing condoms when having sex. Hong Kong has not yet detected any new Mpox strain (Clade Ib) cases.

The CHP reminded high-risk target groups to receive Mpox vaccinations in order to lower the risk of infection or the possibility of having more severe symptoms after infection. In addition, persons who experience Mpox symptoms (including rashes, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches) or suspect themselves of being infected are advised to seek medical attention and receive treatment at once. They should not engage in activities with others that may expose others to their skin rash or body fluids. Members of the public should maintain good personal and hand hygiene to prevent virus transmission or infection through contact. They should also avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of being infected.

The CHP has set up a telephone hotline (2125 2373), which operates from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, excluding public holidays. Those who suspect or are concerned that they may have had high-risk contact with confirmed cases, particularly men who have sex with men or those who have sexual practices with strangers, can use the hotline to make enquiries and receive relevant health advice.

Furthermore, the DH provides vaccination services to high-risk groups of Mpox. The following high-risk target groups are eligible for Mpox vaccinations on a voluntary basis:

individuals with high-risk sexual practices, e.g. having multiple sexual partners, sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months;

healthcare workersresponsible forcaring forpatients with confirmed Mpox;

laboratory personnel working with zoonotic pox viruses; and

animal care personnel with high risk of exposure in caseof Mpox occurrences in animals in Hong Kong.

High-risk target groups can receive Mpox walk-in vaccinations at any of the DH's Social Hygiene Service Clinics (SocHS) (namely Chai Wan SocHS, Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Female SocHS, Yung Fung Shee SocHS, Fanling SocHS and Tuen Mun SocHS) and the DH's Yau Ma Tei Integrated Treatment Centre.

Meanwhile, the DH's Kowloon Bay Integrated Treatment Centre and the Hospital Authority's Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital also provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.

For more details, please visit the CHP's page onMpoxandMpox Vaccination Programme.

Source: AI-found images