As Hong Kong steps up alignment with the country's 15th Five-Year Plan and accelerates the drafting of its first-ever five-year plan, the city's next chapter is being watched well beyond its borders. The blueprint is not only about local economic upgrading and governance—it also shapes how the international community understands Hong Kong's role, competitiveness, and opportunities in the years ahead. In this episode, we spoke with two African consuls general in Hong Kong to gather an international perspective on what long-term planning means for the city and how Hong Kong can continue to play a pivotal role in connecting the Mainland and the world.
South Africa's Consul General in Hong Kong, Mr. Mojalefa Mogono, stressed that the significance of a five-year plan lies in its long-term orientation. In his view, China's development approach is driven by clear long-range goals—and Hong Kong becomes part of that bigger picture. He added that Hong Kong's position as a technology hub requires continuous development to keep pace, making strategic planning "quite crucial."
Mogono also highlighted Hong Kong's role as a "superconnector" and international city, where trade flows, student mobility, and cross-border linkages can operate more smoothly. From his perspective, Hong Kong's achievements can be shared achievements for its partners as well. Looking ahead, he pointed to education, trade, and culture as key pillars for deeper cooperation—arguing that education builds understanding and peace, culture brings people closer, and trade becomes easier when partners truly know each other.
Zimbabwe's Consul General in Hong Kong, Mr. Elias Mutamba, began with cultural connections, noting that Zimbabwe and Hong Kong share elements of history and language that can make communication and cooperation more natural. He described Hong Kong as a "superconnector" and a hub that attracts inbound investment while also enabling outbound opportunities. Mutamba revealed that the two sides are excited to sign a Memorandum of Understanding this September, a practical step aimed at promoting two-way investment flows and moving cooperation from goodwill to structured mechanisms and concrete projects.
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