The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is formulating its first ever five-year development blueprint — a plan that marks a historic milestone. This is more than a policy document; it is a declaration of intent — a moment in which Hong Kong’s long-term vision moves in synchrony with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).

At the heart of this transformation lies a new executive-legislative collaborative mechanism — a framework jointly created by the executive branch and the Legislative Council (LegCo) of the HKSAR. Through this platform, both sides are conducting in-depth consultations across six key priority areas, including finance, innovation and technology (I&T), and the Northern Metropolis. The shift is profound: It takes Hong Kong beyond the traditional approach of “the executive proposes, the legislature reviews” toward a forward-looking model of “co-creation from the very beginning”.

As one of the LegCo members taking part in this process, I have the privilege of seeing firsthand how collaboration — when built on trust and shared purpose — can generate synergy far greater than the sum of its parts.

We contribute three distinct strengths to this partnership.

First, ensuring Hong Kong’s five-year plan resonates with national priorities by harmonizing it with the 15th Five-Year Plan’s strategic pillars — from consolidating the city’s position as an international financial center to building a world-class hub for innovation and technology.

Second, bridging between the government and industry by translating the knowledge and insights of Hong Kong’s financial, technological, and business sectors into actionable policy proposals. For example, in recent financial consultations, we drew directly upon suggestions from the asset management community — advocating smoother cross-border investment mechanisms that align with the country’s financial opening-up, while addressing longstanding issues such as small and medium-sized enterprises’ access to capital.

Third, amplifying voices from the grassroots. The five-year plan must not be a top-down directive but a living framework that responds to people’s everyday needs — from housing supply and transport connectivity to elderly care and youth development.

But to truly achieve the formula of “1 + 1 > 2”, collaboration must go beyond planning to encompass execution and oversight. The promise of co-creation lies not merely in drafting a strong plan, but in ensuring its effective delivery.

But to truly achieve the formula of “1 + 1 > 2”, collaboration must go beyond planning to encompass execution and oversight. The promise of co-creation lies not merely in drafting a strong plan, but in ensuring its effective delivery

This calls for structured and sustained dialogue between the executive and legislature throughout the five-year cycle — regular progress reviews, timely legislative support for priority programs, and constructive oversight to identify and resolve implementation challenges early on. It equally demands a break from siloed, department-by-department policymaking, particularly for cross-cutting strategic initiatives such as the Northern Metropolis. Success in these areas requires genuine coordination, aligning land use, infrastructure, housing, and economic development under a unified strategy.

Far from diluting the mechanism of “coordination with checks and balances” under the executive-led governance system, this new collaborative model refines it. The legislature’s constitutional responsibility of scrutiny remains intact; what changes is the spirit in which that scrutiny is exercised. Instead of reacting after the fact, legislators can now identify risks and policy gaps at an early stage, strengthening accountability and preventing potential pitfalls before they emerge. This is constructive oversight at its best — one that enhances, rather than obstructs, the quality of governance.

This, in essence, is the practical meaning of “patriots administering Hong Kong” — an executive and a legislature working in harmony, not in confrontation, to serve the best interests of Hong Kong society.

The first five-year plan is far more than a development road map. It is a statement of purpose — of Hong Kong’s commitment to integrate more deeply into national development while preserving its own unique advantages.

At its core, the administrative-legislative collaborative mechanism provides the foundation for that success. Through co-creation, aligned vision, and a steadfast focus on public needs, we can ensure that the five-year plan not only envisions a brighter future but also brings it to fruition. In doing so, Hong Kong will once again demonstrate that when different forces unite behind a shared goal, the outcome is not simply additive, but transformative — a true embodiment of “1 + 1 is greater than 2”.

The author is a Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress, a member of the Legislative Council, and a member of the Southern District Council.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.