Hong Kong’s first five-year plan marks an unprecedented milestone not only for its economic and social development, but also for how it governs itself. The plan, which drew on 16,000 public submissions – roughly 80 per cent from ordinary citizens – is a testament to the government’s commitment to long-term development, which shows an unusual convergence of public consensus and political will.
For a city long accustomed to letting the market hold the reins, crafting a road map clear in aims, precise in methods and univocal in stance – and placing itself as the primary agent responsible for its execution – is an act of political self-reinvention. It betokens a willingness to embrace the role of direction setter and reform executor, to be held accountable for outcomes five years down the road rather than merely navigate short-term challenges at hand.
Hong Kong’s reorientation away from a market-led approach indicates not only an upgrade of policy tools, but also a recalibration of governance philosophy.
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