Hong Kong prepares for Beijing’s 14th five-year plan earlier than usual, marking proactive approach to role in country’s development
- Constitutional affairs chief Patrick Nip reaches out to think tanks for views more than two years before next phase set to be endorsed by state legislature
- Observers say new move signifies change in mindset of officials over willingness to integrate
Hong Kong is preparing for Beijing’s 14th five-year plan earlier than usual, marking a proactive approach towards securing a bigger role for the city in the country’s development.
The Post learned that Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip Tak-kuen sent letters to some 20 think tanks in Hong Kong last August, canvassing for views on the city’s development strategy and areas of interest in China’s coming 14th five-year plan.
The move came more than two years ahead of the endorsement of the plan by the National People’s Congress, set for March 2021.
In a recent interview with the Post, Nip said the Hong Kong government started preparatory works for the country’s next blueprint earlier than in previous cases.
For the 12th five-year plan which began in 2011, for example, Hong Kong started compiling suggestions in 2009. For the current and 13th plan, which started in 2016, the Leung Chun-ying administration began work in mid-2014.