Hong Kong’s John Lee, lawmakers hold talks on city’s first five-year blueprint

Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu met lawmakers on Friday to discuss a “highly targeted, substance-heavy” report they compiled outlining proposals on how the city’s first five-year plan should proactively align with national development.

The closed-door meeting took place ahead of the government’s planned launch of a public consultation on Hong Kong’s five-year plan in early June as previously reported

by the South China Morning Post. The plan is expected to be announced by the end of this year.

Legislative Council president Starry Lee Wai-king, House Committee chairman Ronick Chan Chun-ying and Finance Committee chairman Jimmy Ng Wing-ka attended the meeting at the Chief Executive’s Office on Friday morning.

They were joined by Stanley Ng Chau-pei and Yim Kong, members of a dedicated Legco subcommittee on integration into the national 15th five-year plan, which outlines China’s economic and social development blueprint for 2026 to 2030.

“[The city’s five-year plan] will focus on Hong Kong’s development and strategic plans to lay a solid foundation for growth; consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s traditional strengths while actively exploring new avenues,” Lee said after the meeting.

“[It will also] capitalise on Hong Kong’s distinctive advantage under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle … thereby expanding international development opportunities while integrating into and serving the overall national development.”

The Legco subcommittee concluded its fourth meeting on Friday, wrapping up its findings before presenting them to the chief executive. The report has not been made public.