The Hong Kong government plans to launch a public consultation this quarter on the city’s first five-year plan aligned with national development, aiming to gather views on which policies the government should focus on in the coming years.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that Hong Kong’s five-year plan would bring numerous benefits, including abundant development opportunities and enhanced competitiveness.
“The five-year plan is of significant importance to Hong Kong’s economic and social development. It affects residents and all sectors of society, as well as overall well-being. I hope the public will take part,” he said.
“The government’s preparatory work is in full swing, with plans to publish a public consultation paper within this quarter to gather views and help finalise Hong Kong’s first five-year plan.”
Lee earlier said the city would draft the five-year blueprint to proactively align with China’s 15th five-year plan, which outlines the entire country’s economic and social development targets for 2026 to 2030.
Under the national plan, Hong Kong has been commissioned to build a commodity trading ecosystem, a high-quality supply chain service centre and a global hub for high-end talent.
Beijing also reiterated its support for Hong Kong to act as an international centre for finance, shipping, trade, aviation and innovation and technology, in addition to the city strengthening its functions as a global offshore renminbi business hub.
The plan also calls on the government to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis, a megaproject that will transform 30,000 hectares (74,131 acres) of land near the city’s border with mainland China into an economic powerhouse and housing hub.
Last Thursday, Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, met Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po and newly appointed Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse Siu-wa in Beijing to discuss how Hong Kong could align with national policies.
The government has also set up a collaborative mechanism with the legislature to craft the city’s own plan, where the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau and relevant Legislative Council panels would form joint platforms to research and discuss certain topics to gather opinions.
The full text of the city’s five-year blueprint is expected to be published by the end of the year.