Hong Kong five-year development plan consultations

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has initiated a series of regional consultation sessions to gather public input for the city's 2026–2030 five-year development plan and the 2026 Policy Report.

Initial consultations in Tuen Mun focused on economic growth, livelihood improvements, and the university-city development in the northern New Territories. Subsequent sessions in Kowloon Tong expanded the dialogue to include approximately 120 citizens discussing housing affordability, employment, artificial intelligence, and talent recruitment. During these meetings, Lee addressed concerns regarding social mobility, noting a decrease in public housing waiting lists due to increased supply.

In a second district consultation held in Kowloon Tong, Lee and senior officials addressed further public feedback. Citizens raised concerns regarding youth housing affordability and the necessity of a more functional "housing ladder." Specific discussions also touched upon the high cost of secondary school textbooks, with calls to restore a $2,500 school allowance. Regarding urban management, a proposal was made to establish an independent Building Maintenance Department to oversee repairs for older buildings and prevent corruption, a suggestion Lee noted was worth considering.

Additional topics included the integration of AI in business and law enforcement, supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in overseas expansion, and the continued development of the Northern Metropolis. Lee reiterated that the government will utilize a demand-driven approach to talent recruitment and continue implementing measures to encourage birth rates.