John Lee urges public to tune in to Legco debate on city’s 5-year plan, policy address

Hong Kong’s leader has urged residents to pay close attention to a coming three-day debate on the city’s inaugural five-year plan and latest policy address in the legislature.

The debate on the two policy documents is set to begin on Wednesday morning and continue until Friday, according to the Legislative Council’s agenda.

“I look forward to tomorrow’s Legislative Council debate, during which government officials and lawmakers will conduct an in-depth discussion on the concept and details of the five-year plan,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday, adding that the sessions would be attended by government officials led by Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki.

“I encourage everyone to pay close attention, as this will help you better understand the importance and significance of the five-year plan, as well as how the policy address would implement the plan’s first-year initiatives.”

Last month, Lee unveiled the last annual policy address of his current tenure alongside the city’s inaugural five-year plan, which aligned with China’s national development strategy.

The five-year blueprint included plans to double innovation spending and raise the share of manufacturing and new industries to 5.5 per cent of the economy.

The city leader said that he had attended a discussion with Legco members following the release of the blueprints, while major officials had also held policy briefings for different Legco panels.

“Lawmakers’ views reflected that they supported the objectives and policy directions of the five-year plan and policy address, and had also made suggestions in different areas,” he said.

The five-year blueprint, a seven-part document described by Lee as “an action agenda” for Hong Kong’s medium- and long-term development, lists 105 indicators, including 22 major targets covering economic and innovation development, livelihood issues and environmental protection.