Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John Lee, took part in a radio phone-in programme on September 18 to discuss the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and his fifth Policy Address, both unveiled on September 16. The plan sets five main objectives: better livelihoods, breakthroughs in economic development, expanding global competitiveness and influence, faster development of the Northern Metropolis, and better serving the country.
On expanding global competitiveness, Lee stressed the importance of Hong Kong's international status. "The strength of Hong Kong is its international status, and we have been emphasising on how we ensure the internationalism or the 'internationalness' of Hong Kong. We are expanding to cover every part of the world where we can reach," he said. He noted that the Government has Economic and Trade Offices, Invest Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Trade Development Council offices worldwide, adding, "I'm very serious about expanding our network." Since taking office four years ago, Lee has led delegation visits to ASEAN Member States, the Middle East, and Central Asia, with colleagues frequently visiting African countries such as South Africa and Kenya.
To boost Hong Kong's influence, Lee highlighted the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) headquarters in Hong Kong, an organization with United Nations status. He also announced that an international office under the global network of corruption prevention authorities would be set up in Hong Kong. "Hong Kong is an international city, which not just is very good at doing business, but is exercising its responsibility as a global participator, and also, we really can contribute," he said. "And this is also very important, because it just means how, in different areas, Hong Kong is doing very well, and also very connected to the world. And not just being a member, but being a contributor, being really a driver, and we want to share our good experiences, and also learn from other experiences."
The First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address place strong focus on accelerating the Northern Metropolis (NM) project to boost long-term economic development, improve livelihoods, and further integrate into national development. "The Northern Metropolis represents about one third of our geographical area. So it is a big piece of land that gives us new opportunities. An opportunity to upgrade ourselves, both from the accommodation angle as well as development angle," Lee said. Beyond finance, shipping, and trade, the NM will provide room for diversifying industries, creating jobs, and aligning with national development. "The NM is actually mentioned in our country's 15th Five-Year Plan. That means it is not just a Hong Kong development, it has been elevated as a state-driven project. And with the elevation of position, we will have to work hard. And I am sure that the Central Government will also help us to ensure that this will be a success story," he added.
On artificial intelligence (AI), Lee stressed the need to seize opportunities while mitigating risks such as crime, fraud, sexual abuse, and negative impacts on youth. "Last year, we talk very much about how we should benefit from the application of AI, how it will do things faster, and how it will also do things more correctly," he said. "So while we develop and ensure people understand and use it, we also need to tell everybody the potential risks that it will bring." The Government will create a post of Commissioner for AI, who will be "the chief for the whole government, in terms of AI. It means setting the policy. It means coordinating resources, identify problems for them, setting the best practices, issuing guidelines. And also, very importantly, is developing AI for the whole of government with a view to, after we have developed our experience, let the world also learn from these experiences."
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