John Lee: Hong Kong is rapidly formulating its first Five-Year Plan.

　　Xinhua News Agency, Hong Kong, March 16 - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive John Lee said on the 16th at the "Hong Kong Economic Summit 2026" that the first "Hong Kong Five-Year Plan" is being formulated at full speed. This plan aims to unite all sectors of society to actively align with the national "15th Five-Year Plan," providing clear guidance for Hong Kong's social, economic, and livelihood development, and promoting Hong Kong's better integration into and service of the national development agenda.

　　John Lee stated that under "one country, two systems," Hong Kong has the advantage of internal and external connectivity, and the strong support of national development provides Hong Kong with a vast market drive and development opportunities. The year 2026 marks the beginning of the national "15th Five-Year Plan" and is also a crucial year for Hong Kong in planning the development direction for the next five years as it embarks on a new journey from governance to prosperity. The country's development in fields such as innovation and technology, artificial intelligence, big data, and infrastructure construction is globally leading, and efforts are being made to build a strong domestic market, cultivate and expand new momentum, and accelerate high-level technological self-reliance and self-strengthening. Hong Kong can make good use of the national industrial ecosystem and development opportunities to achieve leapfrog development in its emerging industries.

　　He stated that the "15th Five-Year Plan" once again affirms Hong Kong's unique advantage and important role of "relying on the motherland and connecting with the world." Hong Kong should make good use of its role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" in the domestic and international dual circulation pattern, deepen cooperation among cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area internally, participate in and promote the transformation of the Greater Bay Area into a world-class bay area, and actively expand the global economic and trade network externally, while consolidating ties with traditional economies and strengthening interactions with emerging economies such as the Global South.

　　John Lee said that the SAR government has established a "Mainland Enterprises Going Global Task Force" to precisely connect the innovation and creation strength of the mainland, the international strength of Hong Kong's professional services, and the purchasing power of global investors seeking safe investment opportunities, working together with quality enterprises to "go global" and bring in international funds.

　　John Lee stated that Hong Kong will seize opportunities and transform them into tangible results that promote high-quality economic development and improve people's livelihoods, continuously consolidating and enhancing its advantages in industries such as finance, shipping, and aviation. By attracting more leading enterprises to settle, more high-value-added investment and employment opportunities will be created. The Northern Metropolis, which accounts for one-third of Hong Kong's area and future population, is a new engine for Hong Kong's economic development. The SAR government is providing new land for innovation and technology development through innovative cooperation models such as district development and preferential policy packages, injecting momentum into the development of new quality productivity.