On 2 to 4 February 2026, the Director of Planning, Mr Tom Yip, led a delegation to Guangzhou and Foshan for a three-day site visit and professional exchange with local planning authorities.
The delegation started off by holding a forum with the Department of Natural Resources of Guangdong Province and the Guangzhou Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau, during which they exchanged views on a wide array of topics, ranging from the coordinated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the development of the Northern Metropolis in Hong Kong to the regulations and systems for spatial planning. Savouring the inspirational dialogues at the event, the delegates then set foot on three sites of urban renewal projects in Guangzhou. Flaunting distinctive features, each of these projects leveraged on the golden opportunities presented by city revitalisation, providing a platform for upgrading and transformation of industries as well as environmental optimisation. The delegation also explored the Guangzhou University City and Guangzhou Bio-Island on the same day, gaining insights into the history of local planning and development, scientific research and industry projects, and the smart municipal transport facilities.
On the following day, the delegation took a closer look at the application of low-altitude unmanned aircraft system in urban planning and management at the Guangzhou Urban Planning & Design Survey Research Institute and visited two enterprises engaged in smart mobility initiatives. Later, the delegation proceeded to Paitan Town, Zengcheng District to observe some local tourism and recreational development projects aimed at rural revitalisation and ecological restoration.
Day three featured visits to two project sites in Julong Wan area of Guangzhou, where old industrial buildings of heritage significance along the riverfront were revitalised into public spaces for leisure and retail purposes. The delegation then proceeded to Foshan to meet with representatives from the Foshan Municipal Government and the Foshan Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources. Together they toured the headquarters of a prominent multinational enterprise in Beijiao Town, Shunde District, the cultural and lifestyle facilities it invested in and the talent accommodation. The study mission was concluded by a trip to an industry park focused on robot manufacturing, which offered knowledge of the characteristics of the upstream and downstream enterprises along the cluster industry chain as well as the design of its multi-level industry building.
Through this visit and professional exchanges with local planning counterparts, the delegation has gained a deeper understanding of the latest developments in Guangzhou and Foshan’s planning efforts in promoting industry development, improving urban and rural environments, and enhancing the quality of life for the wider community. These experiences serve as useful reference and shed light on similar projects in Hong Kong.
The delegation visited the Robotics Industrial Park
The delegation visited a garden with Lingnan characteristics with representatives from the Foshan Municipal Government and the Foshan Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources
