Hong Kong to Unveil First-Ever Five-Year Plan Alongside Policy Address on Sep 16

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced Wednesday that the government will unveil both its first-ever five-year plan and the annual Policy Address simultaneously on September 16, marking a significant change in how the city presents its long-term development roadmap and immediate policy priorities.

Speaking to reporters following a visit to Sham Shui Po, Lee said the combined presentation—starting with the five-year plan and followed by the Policy Address—is intended to highlight the close linkage between long-term strategy and annual implementation. “This arrangement is designed to help the public see the seamless connection between the five-year plan and the Policy Address,” he told media in Cantonese.

Lee described the five-year plan as providing “direction and strategy” for Hong Kong’s future, while the Policy Address translates that vision into concrete policy actions. He used the metaphor: “The five-year plan is like dotting the eyes of the dragon, while each annual Policy Address is like drawing the dragon itself.”

The government has emphasized that while the five-year plan outlines long-term goals, the Policy Address will focus on turning those goals into deliverable policies. According to a report by local newspaper Ming Pao, citing anonymous sources, Lee plans to present only the main points of both documents to keep the briefing within a similar duration to previous years.

During the press interaction, Lee also addressed public understanding of the five-year plan, noting that some still refer to it using an outdated term. He clarified that the document is officially called a “five-year programme,” a shift in terminology that took place in 2006 when Beijing renamed the Soviet-style Five-Year Plan (五年計劃) to the Five-Year Programme (五年規劃) to reflect market reforms and the transition away from a planned economy.

Despite the name change in Chinese, the English title remains “Five-Year Plan.” The city’s plan is aligned with China’s 15th National Five-Year Plan, which was unveiled during the annual Two Sessions meetings earlier this year. Hong Kong’s blueprint will guide the city’s development over the next five years.

Lee had previously stated in February that the five-year plan aims to “create a synergising force in society” and provide businesses with greater certainty for growth. Public consultation on the five-year plan began in mid-June, followed by sessions for the Policy Address later that month.

The government has indicated it will present a concise overview of both documents to maintain brevity and accessibility.

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