Former chief executive and Vice-Chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference CY Leung has said an initiative by Hong Kong to draft its own five-year plan to align with the national development blueprint won't affect the continued implementation of 'One Country, Two Systems'.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the annual "Two Sessions" in Beijing on Sunday, Leung said a new national development planning law that is under review highlights the importance of One Country, Two Systems, and supports Hong Kong and Macao in aligning with national development.

“Some people may ask: why is Hong Kong also doing a five-year plan? Does that make us the same as provinces and cities on the mainland? Does it mean Hong Kong no longer has One Country, Two Systems? No. The National People’s Congress is now deliberating a National Development Planning Law," he said.

"In this law, it is stated that the country upholds the policy of One Country, Two Systems and supports the two SARs in proactively aligning with, integrating into and serving the overall national development framework.”

He noted the SAR has long made sectoral plans – on housing, transport, and land. But he said Hong Kong's first comprehensive five-year plan to align with that of the nation’s is different from past, single‑sector efforts.

It will not be planning “in isolation”, he said. Instead, Hong Kong will proactively align with the country’s development agenda.



Edited by Cecil Wong