Chief Executive John Lee announced Hong Kong's first five-year plan and delivered the 2026 Policy Address today (Sept. 16). The Policy Address noted that the current-term government has now been in office for four years. Looking back, Hong Kong's economy has turned around from a negative growth of 3.7% to a positive growth of 3.6% last year, and grew by 5.1% year-on-year in the first half of this year — the strongest half-year performance in nearly five years.
The Policy Address pointed out that over the past four years, the government has focused on resolving long-standing "hard nut" problems accumulated over many years. These include legislating to regulate ride-hailing services, filling a legal gap that had existed for years; implementing the three-tunnel toll diversion scheme to ease chronic congestion at cross-harbour tunnels; enacting the Basic Housing Units Ordinance to orderly eliminate substandard subdivided flats in residential buildings; launching Light Public Housing; shortening the Composite Waiting Time for Public Rental Housing from 6.1 years to 4.8 years, a reduction of 1.3 years, marking the lowest level in over eight years for two consecutive quarters; and cracking down on public housing abuse, recovering over 10,000 units — equivalent to two large housing estates — so that residents can move into their homes sooner.
Over the past four years, the government has ended violence and restored social order, handled key cases endangering national security in accordance with the law, and completed local legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law — honourably fulfilling a constitutional responsibility that had been awaited for more than 26 years and establishing a complete and effective barrier for safeguarding national security. Hong Kong's national security barrier has been further strengthened, maintaining the city's prosperity and stability and creating a more stable and predictable business and development environment.
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