Leader John Lee has said that the development of Northern metropolis the center of technology and the city the first five-year plan will be at the top of his agenda as he addresses the city on the 29th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China.
Chief Executive Lee, giving a speaking on Wednesday, July 1, said the five-year plan was a “strategic, forward-looking and guided document” for the city’s development that would be integrated with “overall national development.”
Lee said the plan will work alongside his future Policy address – the last in his current mandate – which will determine the objectives and policy measures “in accordance with the directions and requirements of the Plan”.
“As an important tool for pursuing the vision of ‘people-oriented’ governance, it covers a wide range of areas related to people’s livelihood and well-being, including economy, infrastructure, health care, education, housing and so on,” he said.
Under the five-year plan, authorities hope to improve Hong Kong’s status as an international center in finance, shipping, trade and technology, promote the city’s development as an aviation hub and strengthen its functions as an offshore center for China’s currency.
They will also help create a commodity trading ecosystem, develop the city into a talent hub and deepen international exchange and cooperation, Lee said.
“Maturity Program”
Lee also said the government will “accelerate” the development of Metropolis North, a technology hub near Hong Kong’s northern border with mainland China, “with the vision of incorporating industries, technology and a university city and creating an ideal environment to live, work and travel”.
He said the development has progressed “from the plan stage to maturity” after the Hong Kong section of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone was completed last year.
Lee also said the government will seek to improve welfare, “especially in areas such as housing, transport, health care, education, welfare, youth development etc.”
He said the government had formulated the Basic Housing Units Ordinance with the aim of “disappearing” detached shoebox housing where authorities consider that they do not have basic living standards.
The waiting time for public rental housing has been shortened to 4.7 years on average after the government closed a shortfall in the supply of temporary public housing. Meanwhile, a crackdown on rental abuse has helped housing authorities recover about 10,000 units, Lee added.
“Hong Kong safe and stable”
Lee also listed milestones in national security as well as electoral reform, where only “patriots” are allowed to run for public office.
“Over the past four years, I have changed the culture of the government and formed a ‘results-oriented’ government, focusing on tackling old issues,” Lee said.
“We have built a safe and stable Hong Kong by fulfilling the historic task of enacting domestic legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law and strengthening the national security shield.”
“We have improved the election system and strengthened the county’s governance, fully implementing the principle of ‘patriots administering Hong Kong,'” he added, referring to the central tenet of a Beijing-imposed election review.
Separately, Ho Wai-ho, a firefighter who died in the line of duty in a deadly apartment complex fire last November, has been CLUE Posthumous Gold Medal for Gallantry “in recognition of his act of most conspicuous bravery, self-sacrifice and gallantry of the highest order”.
“Despite the great danger to his life, he continued his rescue work and risked his life to save others,” the award list said. “Mr Ho displayed unwavering commitment, great courage and selfless devotion to the public in carrying out the rescue operation.”
