The city's sole delegate to the top national legislature has said that the formulation of Hong Kong’s own five-year plan will be crucial for the SAR amid a period of economic transformation.

Starry Lee, who sits on the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, has also said the blueprint for the city will be in line with the One Country, Two Systems principle.

A new national development planning law is currently under review at the annual Two Sessions in Beijing, highlighting the importance of One Country, Two Systems, and supporting Hong Kong and Macao in aligning with national development.

On the sidelines of the annual political gatherings, Lee underscored the importance for Hong Kong to have its own policy goals.

“Due to the lack of planning in the past, our economic transformation has yet to see obvious changes for quite a long while,” she said.

“We have also seen that under the country’s plans every five years, the nation’s technological advancements and all aspects of development are progressing at full speed according to that plan.”

Lee pointed out that it is important for the territory to serve the nation's development, and pointed out that people should look beyond the chapter on Hong Kong and Macao in the 15th Five-Year Plan.

“Now our country is doing a lot of things to boost local consumption, [we should see] how we can help in this aspect. A lot of [mainland] enterprises do want to expand their market overseas. Hong Kong has its professional services and strengths to help all these enterprises expand their network outside the country.”

Lee was among Hong Kong deputies to the National People’s Congress who met Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang in the capital, where he said the Legislative Council has “much to offer under the executive-led system”.

The delegate, who is also the Legco president, said it is important for lawmakers to monitor the government by way of putting forward their own thoughts on improving what authorities have proposed.

Monitoring officials does not necessarily mean opposing plans or using “relatively strong words” to criticise the government, Lee added.


Edited by Aaron Tam