John Lee fields public calls on policy vision
Thestandard · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu answered questions from the public on Friday, September 18, during an English-language Radio Television Hong Kong programme about Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and his 2026 Policy Address. The phone-in came two days after he announced both policy blueprints on Wednesday, with discussion centring on the Northern Metropolis, artificial intelligence and Hong Kong’s role in renminbi internationalisation. Lee said substantial resources are being committed to the Northern Metropolis, which covers about one-third of Hong Kong’s geographical area and is intended to create new opportunities for the city. Separately, Sing Tao News Corporation launched a public survey on satisfaction with the Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address, running until September 28
Key Points
- John Lee appeared on an RTHK English-language radio phone-in on Friday, September 18, to answer public questions on the two newly announced policy blueprints
- The discussion covered the Northern Metropolis, Hong Kong’s artificial intelligence ambitions and the city’s expanding role as a centre for renminbi internationalisation
- Lee said the Northern Metropolis accounts for about one-third of Hong Kong’s geographical area and offers fresh development opportunities for the whole city
- He added that more land should help Hong Kong diversify its industries, and said the Northern Metropolis is mentioned in the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan
- Sing Tao News Corporation’s survey asks about satisfaction with the Five-Year Plan and 2026 Policy Address, and accepts responses until September 28
Why It Matters
The public phone-in and the separate survey show that debate over the administration’s long-term agenda is moving beyond the formal Policy Address into direct public feedback channels. For Hong Kong residents and businesses, the emphasis on the Northern Metropolis, industry diversification and financial positioning points to where policy attention and resources may be concentrated in the coming years