Hong Kong Opens Two-Month Public Consultation on Five-Year Development Plan

Hong Kong opened a public consultation Monday on its first five-year plan, a step that aligns the city's development timeline with mainland China's 15th five-year plan for 2026-2030. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse said at a news conference that the blueprint will synchronize with the national plan while upholding Hong Kong's free-market economy.

“Aligning with the national 15th five-year plan does not replace the free market,” she said.

The consultation period will run for two months. Residents can submit opinions through a website, email, or letters, and the government will hold activities to gather views from residents, politicians, and industries. Officials aim to announce a finalized plan in the third quarter.

Under the plan, Hong Kong will strengthen its position as an international financial, maritime, and trade center, Tse said. Officials have proposed accelerating development of the Northern Metropolis project, which envisions an IT hub and university town near Shenzhen, and deepening integration within the Greater Bay Area that includes Hong Kong, Macao, and nine other mainland Chinese cities.

Hong Kong leader John Lee said on June 9 that the plan would integrate a “capable government” with an “efficient market” and help residents understand personal development opportunities while easing business planning.

A Beijing official on Hong Kong and Macao affairs is expected to arrive Tuesday for a two-day visit to examine the city's alignment with the national plan and the Northern Metropolis project. John Burns, a University of Hong Kong politics and public administration professor, said the city had previously disadvantaged itself without strategic planning.