Hong Kong leader defends five-year plan as compatible with 'one country, two systems'

In an opinion piece published in the South China Morning Post on Monday, the city leader also stressed that the blueprint, in focusing on the economy, would ultimately “enable citizens to flourish” by creating employment opportunities and upward mobility.

In the article, he sought to address concerns that introducing the five-year plan, a practice in mainland China for over seven decades, meant the city was walking away from its long-hailed laissez-faire system.

“I have also been asked whether formulating a five-year plan would change Hong Kong’s original system. The answer is no,” Lee wrote.

“The five-year plan will uphold Hong Kong’s rule of law and capitalist system, implement the Basic Law and adhere to ‘one country, two systems’ without distorting Hong Kong.