Hong Kong to unveil first five-year plan on September 16

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced on Wednesday that the city will release its first five-year plan on September 16. The document will be published alongside the annual policy address, according to public broadcaster RTHK.

Lee said the simultaneous release is intended to demonstrate how the government translates the blueprint into concrete policy measures, following the direction and strategies outlined in the plan.

The announcement comes as Lee's administration, which took office in 2022, focuses on policy continuity and closer alignment with mainland China's policymaking processes. Lee, a former police officer and security chief, assumed leadership after a period of COVID-19 disruptions and mass anti-government protests that prompted Beijing to enact a sweeping National Security Law.

A two-month public consultation for the five-year plan ran from June 15 to August 14, during which the government invited feedback from various sectors and residents.

Mainland China has used five-year plans for over seven decades as roadmaps for social and economic development. The mainland's latest plan, its 15th, covers the years 2026 to 2030.