Hong Kong 5-year plan to stick with capitalism, uphold ‘one country, two systems’: John Lee

Hong Kong's inaugural five-year plan, set to be unveiled on Wednesday, will maintain the city's capitalist system and uphold the "one country, two systems" principle, Chief Executive John Lee has stated. The blueprint aims to fully exploit Hong Kong's economic advantages to drive the city's long-term development and provide citizens with employment opportunities and upward mobility, according to Lee's opinion piece in the South China Morning Post.

The five-year plan will adhere to Hong Kong's rule of law, capitalist system, and the Basic Law without distorting the city's status as an international hub. Lee emphasized that the plan would uphold Hong Kong's unique identity while aligning with mainland China's national development blueprint for 2026-2030. The government conducted an extensive consultation process, gathering over 17,000 public submissions, with 80% coming from individual citizens.

The plan's focus is primarily on the economy, but its ultimate goal is to enable residents to flourish through better job opportunities and upward mobility. Lee highlighted that the plan's proposals, such as boosting traditional strengths, developing the Northern Metropolis megaproject, and fostering global cooperation, align with the city's economic priorities while ultimately benefiting residents.

The annual policy address will continue as a separate document, detailing the government's implementation of the five-year plan in each year. This will be Lee's final policy address as he completes his current five-year tenure.