We cordially invite social service practitioners to take an afternoon to experience decades of transformation in the northern part of the New Territories.
In the past, vast closed areas in the Northern New Territories separated the Mainland and Hong Kong, limiting the movement of people between the two sides. The absence of large-scale development preserved its rural scenery. Later, Mainland migrants moved to Hong Kong due to political unrest, some of them settled in the New Territories, forming villages and sustaining generations through fishing and agriculture.
Times have changed. Across the border, Shenzhen transformed into a Special Economic Zone focused on high-tech industries. Subsequently, the Hong Kong government reduced the size of the Frontier Closed Area to develop the borderland, constructing the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Loop to complement the tech strengths of both cities.
The Park is a cornerstone project of the Northern Metropolis. Yet, the neighboring Ha Wan Tsuen—a village that witnessed decades of cross-border history—will soon be demolished under this new wave of redevelopment. Its land will be incorporated into the San Tin Technopole to fulfill the vision of Hong Kong-Shenzhen innovation collaboration. Meanwhile, in Fanling North, extensive construction is underway to generate land for liveable and workable new towns, welcoming both out-of-district residents and incoming talents.
The Council hopes this visit will provide an opportunity for practitioners to connect historical perspectives with new service ideas. Through planning data and site visits, we aim to brainstorm and exchange views on the sector’s future role, while listening to the voices of villagers to reflect on how to preserve precious history and culture in similar communities.
Event details are shown below:
| Date | November 18, 2026 (Wednesday) |
| Time | Assembly time: 1:00 pm Site visit time: 1:15 – 5:45 pm |
| Venue | Assembly location: Sheung Shui MTR Station (tentatively Exit A2) Visit location: The Innohub, HSITP, and Fanling North Community Liaison Centre Dismissal location: Fanling MTR Station |
| Target participants | Management teams, frontline social workers and researchers of HKCSS Agency Members |
| Quota | 30 |
| Language | Cantonese |
| Fee | $120 (Includes transportation; non-refundable) After the deadline, we will send an acceptance email to successful applicants with an FPS link for payment. |
| Application deadline | November 5, 2026 (Thursday) |
If you are interested in this event, please register online on or before the deadline (November 5). A confirmation email will be sent to applicants upon acceptance. Should you be interested in joining this forum, please register online on or before the above deadline. For enquiry, please contact the Policy Research and Advocacy team by email ([email protected]).
We look forward to your participation. Thank you very much!