Hong Kong begins public consultation for annual Policy Address alongside first 5-year plan

The Hong Kong government has launched a public consultation for its annual Policy Address alongside one for the city’s first five-year plan.

The public consultation for Chief Executive John Lee’s fifth Policy Address was launched on Monday. The annual policy blueprint, which is typically delivered in September or October, will be Lee’s last before his five-year term ends at the end of June next year.

In a promotional video published on Monday, Lee reviewed major policies the current administration had rolled out over the past four years, as well as ongoing key projects, such as the Hetao Hong Kong Park and a university town planned in the sprawling Northern Metropolis.

“I welcome your views. Let’s work together to write a brighter chapter for Hong Kong,” he said in the ad.

The public consultation for the 2026 Policy Address will overlap with that for the city’s first five-year plan, which started two weeks ago and will end on August 14.

Last week, Lee sought to differentiate between the five-year plan and the Policy Address, saying the former would outline the city’s economic and social development for the next half-decade.

“The Policy Address will set out the Chief Executive’s annual policy agenda, establish a number of specific targets to respond to the requirements and directions of the [five-year] plan,” Lee said in a government press release on Thursday.

The government will handle the feedback received from the two separate public consultations simultaneously, he added.

On Monday, a poll conducted by a pro-establishment newspaper showed that 67 per cent of respondents were satisfied with the work of the current administration.

Sing Tao Daily reported that more than 9,000 people responded to its online survey conducted this month. Only 18.5 per cent indicated that they were dissatisfied with the performance of the current administration.

Meanwhile, 69 per cent said they were happy with Lee’s performance since he assumed the leadership role in an uncontested election in 2022, according to Sing Tao.