John Lee: Five-year plan proactively aligns with the national 15th Five-Year Plan, systematically mapping out Hong Kong's economic and social development blueprint.

On September 17, John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, attended the interactive Q&A session on "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan" and the 2026 Policy Address at the Legislative Council. He pointed out that this year marks the opening year of the national 15th Five-Year Plan and also a critical year for Hong Kong to move toward "from governance to prosperity." The introduction of "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan" marks that Hong Kong's development has entered a public governance stage characterized by more macro-level strategic planning, long-term whole-of-picture thinking, and reform opening a new chapter. This milestone Five-Year Plan proactively aligns with the national 15th Five-Year Plan, fully leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantage under "one country, two systems" of having both national opportunities and international opportunities superimposed, as well as the SAR government's transformation in thinking in the process of "from governance to prosperity" to recognize changes, respond to changes, and seek changes. He said that the national 15th Five-Year Plan confers on Hong Kong the strategic position of "four centers, one highland," pointing out the need to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international financial, shipping, and trade center and international aviation hub, build an international innovation and technology center, and create a highland for gathering international high-end talent. At the same time, it is necessary to give play to internationalization advantages and provide clear guidance for the vigorous development of Hong Kong's economy and society. John Lee Ka-chiu introduced that "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan" consists of seven sections and 28 chapters in total, focusing on six major areas: first, strengthening the building of "four centers, one highland" and consolidating and enhancing international competitiveness; second, accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis and optimizing Hong Kong's spatial layout; third, deeply participating in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and building a global cooperation network; fourth, effectively improving people's livelihood and well-being and improving the livelihood protection system; fifth, coordinating development and security and enhancing the effectiveness of public governance; and sixth, strengthening the implementation safeguard mechanism of the Five-Year Plan. The full text runs through five clear goals: first, achieving new breakthroughs in economic development; second, enhancing international competitiveness and influence; third, accelerating and improving the efficiency of Northern Metropolis development; fourth, significantly improving people's livelihood and well-being; and fifth, making major progress in integrating into and serving the overall national development. He pointed out that "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan" is a blueprint for Hong Kong's systematic planning of economic and social development over the next five years, and is a forward-looking, strategic, and directional guiding document; the 2026 Policy Address, meanwhile, is the annual action plan for implementing the Five-Year Plan. Take the indicators set by the two documents as an example. "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan" has formulated a total of 105 indicators, including 22 main indicators contained in the first section, 57 work indicators listed in various columns, and 26 work indicators expressed in the text of various chapters; the Policy Address has set 284 indicators involving 83 areas, implementing the direction and requirements of the Five-Year Plan and setting out important projects formulated by the Chief Executive according to Hong Kong's actual circumstances. John Lee Ka-chiu emphasized that the ultimate purpose of governance is to improve people's livelihood. Improving people's livelihood requires resources, resources come from economic development, and economic development creates opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. The government promotes industrial diversification, drives upgrading and transformation, and achieves high-quality development, with the aim of creating more economic dividends for residents to share, live better lives, and effectively enhance people's livelihood and well-being. He said that "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan" is a blueprint of united efforts. It belongs to Hong Kong, and even more to every resident. He believes that as long as Hong Kong steadily advances along the blueprint of the Five-Year Plan and strictly implements the policies and measures of the Policy Address, Hong Kong will certainly be able to jointly open a better new chapter.