Govt receives over 13k submissions for five-year plan

Chief Executive John Lee announced on Sunday that Hong Kong is on track to complete the city's first five-year plan, with the blueprint set to be unveiled in September. During the second district consultation session for the plan and the annual Policy Address, Lee discussed the possibility of establishing a specialized body to oversee building renovation works, aiming to ease the burden on residents and ensure quality.

The session, attended by about 120 participants, included grassroots residents, retirees, professionals, students, and ethnic minorities. A one-hour general Q&A followed by small-group discussions with individual ministers took place. Lee attended the event alongside fellow cabinet members.

One participant, surnamed Wong, expressed difficulty in young people buying flats independently without wealthy support. Lee acknowledged the Northern Metropolis development and the government's efforts to enhance living environments, such as expanding housing options and improving communal areas.

Lee emphasized the importance of supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in adopting technology and AI, and expanding overseas. In response to an engineer's proposal for a buildings maintenance authority, Lee expressed openness to creating a professional, trustworthy, and independent agency service, provided it was well-regulated and residents could trust its fairness and confidence.