16K entries received for HK's 5-year plan consultation

The Hong Kong government has wrapped up a two-month public consultation for its inaugural five-year plan, receiving over 16,000 submissions from citizens and stakeholders across various sectors, as revealed by Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse. Tse emphasized the community's strong engagement and enthusiasm in shaping the city's first five-year plan.

The consultation, which included 100 sessions, saw Chief Executive John Lee personally lead around 30 sessions to gather input from diverse industries and professional groups. Authorities also traveled to other Greater Bay Area cities to gather feedback on aligning with regional development. Hong Kong's five-year plan is seen as a significant step to integrate into the country's 15th Five-Year Plan, serving both national and local development goals.

Key topics in the submissions included advancing the development of the Four Centres and One Highland - Hong Kong's roles as an international financial, shipping, trade, and innovation and technology hub, as well as its aim to become a global talent hub. Many respondents also expressed support for accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis.

While the plan primarily focuses on economic and strategic planning, citizens also raised concerns over livelihood issues, including housing, healthcare, education, and welfare. With the large volume of feedback, authorities are using artificial intelligence to help synthesize and analyze the collected views. The final five-year plan document is expected to be released in September.