A high-profile investor and scholar said on Tuesday that the government should make clear that its Northern Metropolis project will offer a wide range of career opportunities beyond technology.

Witman Hung made the comment after a study by the Northern District Junior Chamber found that many young people were skeptical that the proposed mega-development in the northern New Territories would provide career or business opportunities for them.

The chamber surveyed almost 1,100 people from March to July – the majority of them aged between 18 and 40.

Many of the respondents said even though the Northern Metropolis project is designed to cater for the development of the IT sector, they hope there will also be non-tech jobs available.

Hung, who heads the Greater Bay Area Research Center of China Silk Road iValley Research Institute, stressed there will be plenty of opportunities in other sectors.

“Traditionally, if you look at the youth of Hong Kong, what they're strong at are not all in technology. Our professional service, our finance and even our culture and creative industries are very strong... not everyone wants to become a technology entrepreneur,” he said.

"Technology innovation will be a driving engine, but our major pillars are still the traditional [sectors], international trade, international finance, logistics, aviation, as well as professional services.”

Hung said the hospitality, retail and finance sectors, in particular, have a lot of potential given the location of the Northern Metropolis.

“In the east, while we are focusing on the tourism industry, I think there will be opportunities for retail, the traditional kind of, cross-border industries, maybe cosmetics services,” he said.

“On the west side, which is the Hung Shui Kiu area, there will be a new [central business district] for Hong Kong. So I think what they should have are cross-border e-commerce, cross-border finance, and cross-border professional services.”