Officials introduce reforms promising development, opportunities and growth

John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said he will lead a task force to formulate the city’s first “five-year development blueprint”, aiming to better align the city’s goals with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) across key policy areas.

Local experts said this move reflects a more proactive approach to national integration, helping the city contribute to the country’s overall development while strengthening its own long-term growth.

The National People’s Congress, the nation’s top legislature, is set to review the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development during its annual session in March, alongside the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference — collectively known as the “two sessions”.

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In a recent interview with local media, Lee said that as this year marks the beginning of the new national blueprint, Hong Kong must prepare accordingly.

He said that once the full text of the 15th Five-Year Plan is released, the SAR government will actively align with the country’s strategic growth directions and content directly relevant to Hong Kong.

The city’s plan will outline detailed priorities for key sectors and coordinate with medium- and long-term national development frameworks spanning five, 10, or more years ahead, he said.

Lee said that the national plan covers not only the economy and finance, but also key social and livelihood areas like education, healthcare, housing and youth development. He will personally head a cross-departmental task force to coordinate efforts, highlighting the government’s role as the “primary responsible party” for the city’s progress, he added.

For the city’s first five-year plan, Lee said the authorities will actively solicit input from all sectors of society.

Traditionally, Hong Kong’s long-term planning has been driven by a combination of the annual Policy Address, the Budget, and various sector-specific blueprints and road maps.

Lau Siu-kai, a consultant with the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said that by drafting its own five-year plan, Hong Kong is demonstrating a more proactive approach to integrating into national development. He believes the move will better clarify the city’s direction, boost public confidence, improve policy coordination, and enhance accountability across government departments.

Lau said he expects the plan to be a strategic, forward-looking document that leverages Hong Kong’s international links and comparative advantages to support national and local growth — based on local strengths rather than reactive measures.

Lawmaker Priscilla Leung Mei-fun welcomed the initiative, saying it demonstrates Hong Kong’s recognition of the opportunities brought by national development and its commitment to shouldering greater responsibility.

Having studied law on the mainland in the 1980s, Leung said she has seen firsthand how the previous five-year plans have driven substantial and rapid progress across the country.

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She said that the new alignment approach will allow Hong Kong and the mainland to “maximize their respective strengths and advance together toward shared development goals”. Citing the legal field as an example, Leung said the local plan could prioritize training talent versed in international legal systems to support the nation’s stronger voice in global governance.

Lawmaker Brave Chan Yung said Lee’s personal oversight ensures that the local plan will be treated as a top priority and will boost public confidence in its delivery. He suggested that each policy target include a clear timeline and an accountability mechanism.

Lawmaker Stanley Ng Chau-pei hailed the move as a “positive step” to help the city ride the wave of national development toward more stable and assured growth. It is also a reflection of how Hong Kong and the mainland maximize the strengths of the “one country, two systems” principle, Ng added.