Kwu Tung resident Niki So walks home through her village past neighbouring homes 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

Resident Niki So (C, behind gate) and her family stand behind the gate of their village house as Hong Kong government officers carry out a land resumption operation against them in the Kwu Tung area of Hong Kong's northern New Territories, on June 23, 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

An excavator operates on resumed land during clearance work in the Kwu Tung area of Hong Kong's northern New Territories, on June 23, 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

Police and security officers guard the entrance to a village house following a land resumption operation carried out by Hong Kong's Lands Department, in the Kwu Tung area of Hong Kong's northern New Territories, on June 23, 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

An aerial view shows the home of Kwu Tung resident Niki So in the foreground, as surrounding land is transformed into construction sites under Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis development plan, 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

Photo taken on June 15, 2026 shows family homes in Tin Sam village close to the border to China in northern Hong Kong. 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 Peter PARKS / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH AFP STORY: Hong Kong-economy-technology-development, FOCUS by Catherine LAI

Kwu Tung resident Niki So plays with her pet bird at her home 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

Officers from Hong Kong's Lands Department, accompanied by police and other security personnel, enter resident Niki So's village house during a land resumption operation in the Kwu Tung area of Hong Kong's northern New Territories, on June 23, 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