Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has pledged to enhance the city’s urban management systems to better address natural disasters and improve the handling of public complaints. Speaking at a town hall meeting in Tuen Mun on Tuesday, Lee sought public input ahead of the release of Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and his fifth annual policy address.

The meeting, attended by over 130 residents and all ministers, was held at South Tuen Mun Government Secondary School as part of a public consultation exercise launched in June. Only residents and district representatives selected by the government were invited. The consultations aim to gather feedback on two key documents intended to guide Hong Kong’s development through 2030.

Lee emphasized the integration of government and community efforts to manage challenges arising from extreme weather and other disasters. “Whether it is the development of new urban areas or the redevelopment of old districts, we often face challenges such as extreme weather and different types of disasters,” he said. Lee called for upgrading urban management systems to improve district governance, including better coordination of drainage, emergency response, traffic management, and public complaint handling. The government also plans to leverage technology to address current and future challenges.

Lawmakers have urged a revamp of the city’s 1823 public complaint hotline, citing Beijing’s AI-assisted 12345 Citizen Hotline as a model, following a recent study trip to the Chinese capital.

Residents raised a variety of issues during the two-hour forum, including housing, healthcare, social welfare, and support for ethnic minority communities. Discussions, however, gravitated primarily toward economic growth and technological advancement.

A local businessman expressed concerns about barriers faced by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to establish a presence in the Northern Metropolis, a 30,000-hectare development project that Lee described as central to Hong Kong’s long-term transformation. The businessman urged the government to ensure space for SMEs within the development and enhance business community coordination.

A university student underscored the rising graduate unemployment rate and the shrinking availability of entry-level positions in innovation and technology sectors. The student recommended targeted on-the-job training subsidies and more flexible regulations for single-person companies to encourage entrepreneurship among youth.

In response, Lee reiterated the government’s commitment to developing high-quality industries through cutting-edge technologies, including quantum technology and aerospace, with the goal of creating better-paying jobs. He assured that SMEs would be supported in their transformation amid technological advances and would have opportunities within the Northern Metropolis, which includes a proposed university town.

The five-year plan intends to align Hong Kong’s development with China’s broader 15th Five-Year National Plan (2026–2030), focusing on areas such as innovation, finance, shipping, and trade. Lee said his upcoming policy address would report on the city’s progress and provide strategic guidance for the future.

Addressing calls for more inclusive social policies, Lee pledged to foster opportunities for Hong Kong’s 7.5 million residents, including ethnic minorities, in healthcare and social services.

The public consultation will continue until August 14, with a second district session scheduled for Sunday. Lee has committed to delivering the finalized five-year plan by the third quarter of 2026.