These strategies provide a bridge between territorial and local planning. They translate the territorial goals into more specific planning objectives for the five sub-regions of Hong Kong, namely, the Metro Area, Northeast New Territories, Northwest New Territories, Southeast New Territories and Southwest New Territories.

The 'Hong Kong 2030: Planning Vision and Strategy' study has revealed that population growth could be significantly lower than that predicted earlier and that social and economic interactions with the Mainland have become stronger. These changes have prompted the need for a critical review of the sub-regional planning strategies and the development areas identified previously.

Within the Metro Area, planners are focusing their attention on the harbourfront and the old buildings there to see how they can improve the area's environment. The Government is working closely with the Harbourfront Enhancement Committee, an advisory body consisting of representatives from a wide range of community interests, on a review of the Harbour Plan.

In September 2006, the Security Bureau announced a proposed plan for reducing the size of the existing Closed Area near the boundary with the Mainland from about 2 800 hectares to about 800 hectares to free more land for development. The Planning Department has embarked on a study to examine the future use of the freed land under the principle of sustainable development.