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