Kwu Tung resident Niki So stands in the backyard of her home, with new residential developments under construction immediately beside her property, in Hong Kong, on June 17, 2026. An area roughly a third of Hong Kong including villages, natural wetlands and farmland are being converted into the "Northern Metropolis", an ambitious project aimed at deepening integration with the mainland, diversifying the economy and providing new homes. (Photo by Leung Man Hei / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH AFP STORY: Hong Kong-economy-technology-development, FOCUS by Catherine LAI