Hong Kong’s leader has said work will proceed simultaneously on two metropolis projects as planned, and there is no need to prioritise one over the other as suggested by his top adviser.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday compared the city’s reclamation plans with Singapore, saying the scope of work required to build three artificial land masses off Lantau Island was relatively low.

The ambitious reclamation bid, introduced by the city’s previous leader, is one of two mega projects on the horizon for Hong Kong, but executive councillor Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee on Monday argued it should take a back seat to the Northern Metropolis development.