Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee has pledged in his New Year's speech to improve livelihoods, accelerate public housing projects, and bolster innovation and technology development in alignment with China's 15th five-year plan. He described 2025 as a year of challenges that demonstrated perseverance. The speech was uploaded to his social media account on Wednesday night.
Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has vowed in his annual New Year's speech to prioritize improving livelihoods and expediting public housing construction while fostering growth in innovation and technology (I&T). Delivered and uploaded to social media on Wednesday night, the address reflects on 2025 as a year marked by challenges yet defined by perseverance.
Lee outlined two key objectives. The first focuses on enhancing livelihoods and well-being, including implementing a registration system for 'basic housing units' to replace poor-quality subdivided flats, bolstering healthcare and education resources, and offering more employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth.
The second objective is to strengthen I&T-driven development and align proactively with China's National 15th five-year plan, which spans 2026 to 2030. Keywords from the speech include Tai Po, Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, Kai Tak Sports Park, Wang Fuk Court, public housing, Northern Metropolis, and East Kowloon Cultural Centre.
'We will focus on two key objectives. First, to enhance livelihoods and well-being, and to expedite the construction of public housing,' Lee said.
'Second, to strengthen I&T-driven development and proactively align with the National 15th five-year plan,' he added, referring to the national development plan for 2026 to 2030.