The Northern Metropolis is a central component of Hong Kong’s inaugural five-year development plan, encompassing a significant portion of the city's total land area. The project is frequently compared to the rapid transformation of Shenzhen, which evolved from a small fishing village into a major global economic hub over the past several decades.

Supporters of the project argue that the Northern Metropolis represents a necessary evolution for Hong Kong, suggesting that the city should adopt a spirit of experimentation similar to that which fueled Shenzhen’s growth. By focusing on large-scale land development, the government aims to address long-standing spatial constraints and economic stagnation. While the SCMP report frames the project as a positive, transformative opportunity for the region, it acknowledges that the initiative is a subject of ongoing public and political debate regarding its necessity and implementation. The comparison to Shenzhen serves as a benchmark for the scale and speed of development envisioned by planners, though the specific mechanisms for achieving this growth remain a focal point for future policy discussions.