Chief Executive John Lee today said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will proactively align with the “Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic & Social Development of the People’s Republic of China” (the 15th Five-Year Plan) and press ahead with high-quality development.  

The fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress approved the 15th Five-Year Plan today.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government thanked the central authorities for their support in consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s competitive edge across various key areas, and for facilitating Hong Kong’s better integration into and service of the overall national development.

Mr Lee outlined that the 15th Five-Year Plan is the blueprint and action agenda for the country’s social and economic development in the next five years.

“The major objectives for this period include significant achievements in high-quality development, substantial improvements in scientific and technological self-reliance and strength, fresh breakthroughs in further deepening reform comprehensively, notable cultural and ethical progress across society, further improvements in quality of life, major new strides in advancing the Beautiful China Initiative and further advances in strengthening the national security shield.”

The Chief Executive added that the Hong Kong SAR is greatly encouraged by these objectives and will proactively align with the outline, contributing Hong Kong’s strength to further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese modernisation.

“I extend my sincere gratitude for the country’s steadfast support and care for Hong Kong as demonstrated by the inclusion of multiple provisions in the 15th Five-Year Plan to promote Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability, and to deepen the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,” he said.

“I will lead the Hong Kong SAR Government to earnestly fulfil its role in bearing the primary responsibility for the governance of Hong Kong, unite various sectors of the community to actively support and proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan.”

Mr Lee stressed that, through formulating a systematic policy framework, the Hong Kong SAR Government will map out strategic initiatives of greater comprehensiveness, higher precision and finer detail for key development areas, and will, for the first time, draw up a macroscopic, strategic and forward-looking five-year plan for Hong Kong.

Preparatory groups set up by various bureaus under Mr Lee’s instruction have been converted into formulation teams for alignment with the 15th Five-Year Plan, and will work at full speed to craft Hong Kong’s five-year plan this year.

Mr Lee said Hong Kong’s first Five-year Plan, aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, will have far-reaching implications.

“Serving as the collective action framework for the Hong Kong SAR, it will outline Hong Kong’s development vision, core objectives, key areas and major initiatives over the next five years. This plan will provide clear guidance for Hong Kong’s socio-economic and livelihood development, driving Hong Kong’s deeper integration into and contribution to the overall national development.”

The Chief Executive emphasised that the most direct benefit of Hong Kong’s five-year plan will stem from having the robust backing of national development. As the world’s second-largest economy, he said, the country’s comprehensive capabilities provide Hong Kong with immense market momentum and development opportunities.

He remarked that as China has surged to global leadership in various fields – including innovation and technology, artificial intelligence, big data, and infrastructural development – Hong Kong can leverage the country’s industrial ecosystem and progress to achieve “leapfrog development” in its own emerging industries.

“To ensure the smooth progress of the formulation work, I will take the lead in this endeavour, with the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau assuming primary responsibility,” Mr Lee said.

He added that all Secretaries of Departments and Directors of Bureaus shall fully commit to driving forward and jointly participating in this initiative.

“I am confident that with our concerted efforts and collective wisdom, the first Hong Kong’s Five-year Plan will serve as a guiding framework for pioneering new horizons and achieving a new leap forward for Hong Kong.

“It will lay a more concrete foundation for our long-term prosperity and stability, enabling Hong Kong to demonstrate renewed commitment and achievements in the journey of integrating into and serving the overall national development.”

The fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress also adopted the National Development Planning Law. This is the first time that a dedicated piece of legislation concerning national development planning has been enacted at the top level.

The law provides a robust legal foundation for the formulation of development plans.