On Lee’s duty visit last December, Xi highlighted the significance of the third party plenum in July, which set systematic goals for China’s next stage of modernisation and the deepening of reform. This was taken as a reminder to the Lee administration to further undertake reform and be more innovative when aligning the city’s development with the national strategy. The message this year is even louder and clearer as Beijing gears up for the new five-year blueprint.
Lee has more than a year left in his current five-year term. He has rightly pledged to deepen reform, enhance governance and improve livelihoods. From overhauling fire and building safety to boosting the economy and capitalising on the opportunities arising from the next national development blueprint, a lot more still needs to be done.

















