Hong Kong's 5-year plan to focus on economic development, well-being for residents: financial secretary

HONG KONG -- Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, said on Sunday that Hong Kong's first five-year plan will foster economic development and boost employment.

His remarks came as the two-month public consultation period for the blueprint will start on Monday.

Chan wrote in his blog that the plan will help the business community, companies and residents develop a clearer vision for the future. He hopes that the public consultation will generate informed and novel ideas as well as pool resources from all sectors.

Tapping new markets and exploring new drivers of growth are key issues to be discussed in the public consultation, he said.

Enhancing coordinated development with other regions across the country is among the objectives of the plan. The financial secretary said Hong Kong must further align rules and mechanisms within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to facilitate the flow of various production factors.