Speculation is rife about Beijing's agenda following a new deputy director appointment in Hong Kong, suggesting a push for deeper integration with Greater Bay Area cities. Hong Kong's current framework may need an overhaul for the Northern Metropolis to accelerate.

The arrival of Yuan Gujie, the new deputy director of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong, has sparked widespread speculation. Her legal background and experience in Guangdong province suggest that her posting carries a clear agenda: to promote deeper integration between Hong Kong and other Greater Bay Area cities. One thing is clear: if the Northern Metropolis is to accelerate, Hong Kong’s existing legal framework and development model may prove inadequate. A fundamental overhaul is urgently....