Five-Year Plan won't impose restrictions on new administration

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse says Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan is designed to align with the country's National 15th Five-Year Plan. Tse does not think the plan will impose restrictions on the next administration's policy-making.

The government has launched a two-month public consultation to collect opinions for its first Five-Year Plan. Speaking on a TVB programme, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse says authorities have received more than 900 replies over the past two weeks, adding that most opinions focus on housing and retirement issues.

Asked what differences would lie between the plan and the annual Policy Address, as well as the Budget, Tse says the plan offers macroeconomic development direction for Hong Kong.

Tse says the Policy Address and the Budget would carry a more important mission because authorities will need to formulate policy that will help achieve the targets set within the plan.

While some people are concern that introducing the plan in the last year of Chief Executive John Lee's administration would impose restrictions on his successor when it comes to their policy-making, the secretary notes the plan is designed to align with the country's National 15th Five-Year Plan.

She says if the planning is going in the right direction, it should not require changes, even when a new administration takes office.