'HK's first five-year plan won't see revised version'

Chief Executive John Lee said on Saturday that the city’s first five-year plan would not have a revised version, even if it could not meet performance indicators. However, the Policy Address would have to explain the reasons leading to the shortcomings. Taking to the airwaves to further explain the two blueprints, Lee said he had taken reference from the nation’s five-year plans in coming up with all 105 indicators in the SAR’s version and that they had also been formulated based on the city’s situation. He stressed that all indicators, which track progress made in economic, social and governance, had to be achieved and that would happen through implementation of the annual policy blueprint. “For example, we have set an economic growth target that's in line with the global one. But then suddenly there's a conflict and global supply chains become disrupted,” he said. “Then the matter would have to be dealt with in that particular year's Policy Address.” The justification has to be thorough, he stressed. Lee points out that when an SAR chief executive carries out duty visits to Beijing, he or she will also need to report to the president on unforeseeable events. At the same time, the SAR’s leader will also need to...