【Wealthy CityLinkers】Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan Launches Consultation – A Key Reference for Corporate Strategic Deployment
John Lee, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, emphasized that the plan will consolidate traditional advantages and open up new arenas, enabling businesses to benefit from clearer policy directions, a more favorable business environment, and greater opportunities arising from alignment with national strategies.
The five-year plan covers six major areas, including: accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis and advancing spatial planning in other districts; economy, finance, and trade; innovation, technology, and industrial development; livelihood and social development; regional cooperation; and the synergistic development of culture, sports, and tourism, as well as green living and other fields.
"AI+" and "Finance+" as Twin Engines for Industrial Upgrading
Financial Secretary of Hong Kong Paul Chan stressed that “AI+” and “Finance+” are key strategic directions. AI is not limited to the tech innovation sector but can also empower trade finance, risk management, and customer services. “Finance+” leverages Hong Kong’s full-chain financing advantages to build a more robust patient capital system that supports cutting-edge technology development.
The plan proposes promoting the high-quality development of Hong Kong as an international financial center, deepening the integration of stock, bond, asset management, and wealth management markets, and expanding cross-border investment and financing channels. Enterprises should promptly assess how their businesses align with these emerging areas.
Northern Metropolis: A Key Strategic Area for the Next Five Years
The development of the Northern Metropolis is prioritized as a key area, aiming to deliver approximately 900 hectares of developable land, over 70,000 housing units, and 1 million square meters of economic floor space within the next five years. The Northern Metropolis will be driven by a “twin-engine” approach—a university town and innovation and technology—advancing the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, as well as the San Tin Technopole, with a focus on industrial clusters such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology. For enterprises looking to expand into the Greater Bay Area or position themselves in innovation and technology, the Northern Metropolis represents a critical strategic choice.
The plan emphasizes enhancing Hong Kong’s role as the primary offshore platform for mainland Chinese enterprises, continuously optimizing the foreign investment environment, guiding industrial development, and strengthening Hong Kong’s role as a professional services hub.
In light of this historic plan, enterprises are encouraged to take proactive steps: follow the dedicated website and submit comments before August 14; review their business alignment with “AI+” and “Finance+”; and optimize cross-border structures in advance. Active participation and early positioning will enable businesses to seize opportunities in the new development cycle and achieve higher-quality growth.
Paxson Fung, Partner of CityLinkers Group
For original article, please visit: https://www.hkcd.com.hk/hkcdweb/content/2026/06/24/content_8761576.html
