Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced today that the city will unveil its first five-year plan on September 16, 2026, alongside the annual policy address [1, 2, 3, 4]. The plan lays out a strategic blueprint for Hong Kong’s economic and social development from 2026 to 2030 [4].
Lee emphasized the coordinated release of the two documents to help the public understand their connected roles. He said, "The five-year plan draws the eyes of a dragon, while the policy address draws the entire dragon." He added, "if the public can look at the two documents together, they will see how the five-year plan sets the directional requirements and guidance, and how the policy address formulates policies and implements the direction of the blueprint" [2].
The five-year plan sets long-term goals while the annual policy address will detail concrete policy measures and set yearly priorities. Lee explained the policy address "formulates policies and implements the direction of the blueprint" and will respond to changing international and economic conditions each year [4]. He also described the back-to-back release as "to make it easier for the public to understand the inheritance relationship between them" [4].
The plan signals closer alignment of Hong Kong’s policymaking with mainland China, as Lee stressed the importance of policy continuity and coordination with Beijing's 15th national five-year plan covering the same 2026–2030 period [1, 3].
A two-month public consultation on the city’s five-year plan ran from June 15 to August 14, 2026. During this time, Lee visited low-income residents and elderly community services to hear their views directly, pledging to support "healthy, dignified ageing in place" for senior citizens [2]. More than 16,000 public submissions were received during the consultation period [4].
Lee will present both the five-year plan and policy address to the Legislative Council on September 16 and attend a question-and-answer session with lawmakers the following day to discuss details [2, 4].
