View of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd Photo: VCG

Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said on Sunday that boundless opportunities await the city during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, stating that Hong Kong is well-positioned to achieve significant progress.

In a blog post, Chan noted that the ongoing “two sessions” in Beijing have seen extensive discussions on the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development.

He described the plan as a comprehensive blueprint for the nation’s high-quality development, crucial not only for China’s modernization and national rejuvenation but also as a guiding principle for Hong Kong to seize new development opportunities.

Chan highlighted the complex and volatile international landscape, marked by geopolitical tensions and a slowing global economy. These challenges, he argued, underscore the imperative for national strength in technological and economic domains.

For Hong Kong, this necessitates a deep understanding of the strategic deployments within the 15th Five-Year Plan. He stressed the importance of proactively aligning with the plan and supporting the formulation and implementation of Hong Kong’s own five-year development strategy to foster high-quality growth.

Hong Kong will draft its first five-year development blueprint as part of efforts to better align with the national 15th Five-Year Plan, John Lee, chief executive of HKSAR, said on February 4, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Lee said that he will lead the HKSAR government, including all bureaus and departments, in formulating the plan, as this year marks the start of the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan.

Hong Kong’s economy is estimated to have expanded 3.5 percent year-on-year in 2025, with the value of exports and imports of goods surging by 12 percent, Lee said.

Leveraging its unique advantages under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, Chan pointed to Hong Kong’s role as an international financial, shipping, and trade hub. Its status as a gateway to both the Chinese mainland market and the wider world positions it as an ideal platform for foreign investors and a strategic partner for mainland enterprises seeking to expand globally. Hong Kong can play a pivotal role in the nation’s dual circulation strategy and high-level opening-up, he said.

Furthermore, Chan emphasized Hong Kong’s potential to contribute to the nation’s development of new quality productive forces, particularly in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and the low-altitude economy. With its international research platforms, professional services, and robust capital markets, Hong Kong is well-positioned to attract global innovation resources, thereby injecting new momentum into its economy.

Global Times