Chief Executive John Lee today emphasised that security is the prerequisite for development and that development reinforces security as he announced Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan.

Under the blueprint, public governance will be enhanced by driving a shift towards a prevention-based model to bolster the resilience of the economy and society. Various initiatives will be spearheaded to improve security and efficiency through a reform-oriented mindset, he said.

As part of the effort to build an efficient government, digital evolution and smart transformation of public administration will be expedited. To achieve this, technology will be leveraged to boost the efficiency of law enforcement agencies through the use of data analytics to improve surveillance to combat problems such as the abuse of public rental housing.

A wider adoption of the “digital-first” principle in government will be promoted in procedures and work flows, while digital identity functions and one-stop e-services powered by “IAM Smart” and the Digital Corporate Identity Platform will be expanded.

Meanwhile, the civil service training management system will be improved to entrench a people-oriented ethos. This will include improvements to the civil service performance appraisal system to ensure fairness in handing out rewards and punishment.

Additionally, under the plan, Hong Kong’s disaster prevention, mitigation and response capabilities will be strengthened. Efforts will be made to integrate the city management system, connecting city management data from different departments. By using technologies such as AI, big data and the Internet of Things for inter-departmental data sharing, real-time analysis, risk alerts, instant predictions and management synergies, the city’s resilience can be further enhanced.

Furthermore, under the holistic national security approach, Hong Kong’s institutions, legal system and enforcement mechanisms will be further strengthened to safeguard national security.

Mr Lee emphasised that the Policy Address delivered by the Chief Executive will serve as an annual work plan for implementing the Five-Year Plan. The Budget provides solid resource support for the implementation of the Five-Year Plan and the annual Policy Address.

The Chief Executive will report to the President of the People’s Republic of China and the Central Government on the implementation of the Five-Year Plan in the context of the annual duty visit. The implementation of the Five-Year Plan will be monitored, assessed and checked regularly, with mid-term adjustments to be made in light of actual circumstances.

Visit Part 6 and Part 7 of Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan for more details.