The government will launch a two-month public consultation on its first five-year blueprint to align Hong Kong’s development with the national plan, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has announced.
Confirming a South China Morning Post report, Lee said earlier this week that the consultation would begin on Monday, marking what he described as a milestone for the city.
“The formulation of Hong Kong’s first five-year plan is a historic step and is of great significance,” he said.
“We hope to gather everyone’s views, listen to the people and gauge public sentiment extensively, to make great efforts to compile Hong Kong’s five-year plan that belongs to the residents.”
The public could submit views via dedicated websites, Lee said. He added that the government would hold multiple sessions to gather input from various sectors, including lawmakers and industry representatives.
The SCMP has learned that authorities will gather feedback from industries through face-to-face sessions, alongside a large-scale publicity campaign to promote the exercise. This will include television advertisements, banners and more.
Hong Kong’s first five-year plan is expected to be released by the end of the year. A dedicated interdepartmental task force, led by the city leader, will oversee the drafting.
The exercise is being spearheaded by Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse Siu-wa, who replaced Erick Tsang Kwok-wai in March.
The plan will cover areas including the economy, investment, industrial development, land, housing, transport and infrastructure, employment, healthcare, education and welfare.
The blueprint will align with the national five-year plan, which guides China’s development from 2026 to 2030.
Lee added that Hong Kong’s plan could set out a clear trajectory to steer the city on a more sustainable development path. It could also help the public better identify personal growth opportunities and enable businesses to plan for the future, thereby fostering a more prosperous society.
“The five-year plan will bring practical safeguards to Hong Kong citizens and all sectors of society,” he said.
He noted that the plan could reinforce the city’s status as a global hub while upgrading its aviation infrastructure and attracting international talent.
Lee said it could also position the city to seize opportunities arising from national strategies, including tapping into the mainland Chinese market and benefiting from the country’s technological advancements.
Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies think tank, said that the two-month time frame was compact, but the consultation could not be allowed to drag on for too long.
“The public lacks experience in drafting five-year plans. Without a structured framework it will be difficult for them to provide meaningful feedback,” he said.
He emphasised that the five-year plan would ensure policy continuity and stability for the next administration, avoiding any abrupt changes. He also said that the city should strengthen its cooperation with the mainland and tap into new markets.
A government source earlier said officials were aware that the exercise would overlap with the public consultation for the annual policy address and that they needed to stagger key events to avoid public confusion.
Last year, the policy address consultation began on June 16, with Lee delivering the blueprint on September 17.
Lee had previously described the blueprint as a “prescient, strategic and executable direction document” that would integrate an efficient market with a capable administration and provide direction for Hong Kong’s development.
