Historic moment for Hong Kong as John Lee set to deliver city’s first ever 5-year plan

Hong Kong's leader, John Lee Ka-chiu, is set to unveil the city's inaugural five-year plan at the legislature on Wednesday morning, followed by his annual policy address. The eagerly awaited blueprint, which emerged following a two-month public consultation, intends to harmonize the city's objectives with the nation's 2026-30 development blueprint.

In an op-ed published on Monday, Lee revealed that the blueprint will incorporate both obligatory and anticipatory targets for Hong Kong, while emphasizing that the long-term plan will not steer the city towards a planned economy. The five-year plan is poised to delineate the long-term blueprint and strategic direction for Hong Kong's development, carrying "far-reaching significance".

Lee's annual policy address, meanwhile, will persist as an annual report, outlining how the government will execute the plan in a given year. This year's policy address will also mark Lee's final statement of his current term, as he prepares to step down. Readers can follow The South China Morning Post's live blog for real-time updates on the two documents slated to steer the city's economic and social development over the next five years.