Lawmaker Lo Wai-kwok on Thursday voiced support for the government's decision not to carry out reclamation for the Kau Yi Chau project during its current term and focus on developing the Northern Metropolis instead.

Lo was speaking a day after the secretary for development said in a written reply to him that the administration did not have a timetable for Kau Yi Chau or the necessary conditions for reclamation to be carried out before its term ends in mid-2027.

Speaking on RTHK, Lo noted that unlike with Kau Yi Chau, a local economy is already taking shape in the Northern Metropolis with many people having already moved to the area.

Geographically, he added, the Northern Metropolis also plays a crucial role in co-operative efforts by Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

"As the Northern Metropolis is close to Shenzhen, and therefore strategic to Hong Kong-Shenzhen cooperation, it is a very important plot of land in the Greater Bay Area," Lo said.

"There will be a lot of cooperation for all parties to achieve a win-win situation together.

"Given this special condition, I think that it is right to give priority to the Northern Metropolis."

Lo also said it is pragmatic on the part of the government to carry out the environmental impact assessment procedures later when a timetable for the reclamation becomes available.

Lau Chun-kong, chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors' land policy panel, said on the same show that the decision had only a "very mild impact" on land supply in the medium term.