Letter from the President: Learning from our Country, Planning for Our City
Letter from the President: Learning from our Country, Planning for Our City
Dear Friends of Our Hong Kong Foundation,
Warmest greetings. I hope you and your family are keeping well amidst the recent spell of extreme rainfall and record heat.
Looking back over the past three years since I became President of Our Hong Kong Foundation, I am struck by how quickly predictability has given way to uncertainty.
The international landscape has been reshaped by heightened geopolitical conflicts, regional tensions, disruptions to global energy supply and growing economic fragmentation. At the same time, the AI revolution has arrived with astonishing speed. In just a few short years, AI has moved from the realm of possibility to everyday reality, challenging long-held assumptions about competitiveness, productivity, and even the nature of education and work.
Together, these developments are prompting governments around the world to rethink how to plan for the future. Long-term strategic thinking has never been more important.
Against this backdrop, Hong Kong has arrived at a defining moment of its own. For the first time in our city’s history, we are preparing a Five-Year Plan. This is far more than another government policy initiative. It is an unprecedented opportunity to look beyond immediate challenges, think strategically about the future, and define how Hong Kong can best contribute to national development in an increasingly complex world.
Supporting this process has therefore become one of OHKF’s foremost priorities.
Understanding China
We have all witnessed China's extraordinary transformation in the past 40 years from a poor and struggling nation to a modern and technologically most advanced country. While many westerners still criticize China as a copycat or simply dismiss it through the labels of “communist” and “autocratic,” few have seriously sought to understand how it has achieved so much and so fast.
Since joining OHKF, one of the most valuable lessons I have learned has been about the Mainland’s approach to long-term planning.
Based on our studies, the national five-year plans play a key role. Learning from the successes and mistakes of its first three decades, China has since 1981 developed a hybrid socialist market economy. Under this system, the Central Government strengthens its governance by delegating and empowering local authorities under its overarching national strategic goals.
The system encourages home-grown invention and innovation while facilitating constructive competition within its huge domestic market. Whether in AI or the space economy, the diversity and vitality of China’s private sector companies are ahead of the rest of the world.
China is also leading in renewable energy and is on track to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. It has eradicated poverty that once plagued the country. The targets set in successive five-year plans were real, not decorative, and all were achieved. There is so much we can learn from our mother country.
I dare not claim to know China, for “Understanding China” is a book that never ends: great achievements continue to be made and new challenges continue to emerge, as they do in every country. Every page I turn opens a new world, sometimes affirming my views and sometimes challenging them. I am reminded of this as I read Joe Ngai’s new book, The Next China Is Still China. It is an inspiring book that gives me new questions to ponder and new ideas to explore. The more I learn about China, the more I realise how little I know. Let’s continue this delightful journey of discovery together—for the good of Hong Kong.
Planning for Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s circumstances are, of course, different. Our greatest strengths have always been our openness, entrepreneurial spirit, rule of law and deep international connections. Yet strategic planning and market dynamism are not opposing ideas. They complement one another.
Indeed, Hong Kong’s unique advantage lies in combining the strengths of both.
Our task is to build on what makes Hong Kong distinctive: remaining one of the world’s freest and most internationally connected economies while aligning our long-term development with national priorities where our strengths can make the greatest contribution. That combination is something neither a purely free-market system nor a planned economy can fully achieve on its own.
Recently, I published an article advocating Hong Kong to draw reference from the San Francisco Bay Area and initiate a platform with GBA to mediate and build consensus. I trust that we could learn from the San Francisco experience and explore how we could better integrate Hong Kong with GBA.
With this conviction, OHKF has devoted much of the first half of this year to fostering dialogue on Hong Kong’s future. We organised study sessions on the National 15th Five-Year Plan with leading scholars from China Development Institute and National Development and Reform Commission’s Macroeconomic Research Institute, followed by discussions with academics, business leaders and policy experts from across the GBA.
Most recently, we submitted our recommendations to the government as part of the public consultation on Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address. Although our proposals covered a broad range of economic, social and technological issues, they were united by a single underlying theme: the people. Whether the issue is about talent, education, housing, healthcare, ageing or cross-boundary mobility, people ultimately lie at the heart of every long-term development strategy.
In our submission paper, we emphasised the need to re-consider our population policy and our liveability to attract and retain talents. Both concepts require strong policy implementation capacity under the executive-led system through enhanced cross-bureau collaboration and a culture that fosters a more proactive and innovative mindset.
To achieve policy continuity and adaptability beyond any single government tenure, robust government processes are as important as broad societal participation. An inclusive rolling planning will help maintain long-term direction, track progress, refine measures in response to changing circumstances and sustain momentum.
Research Impact
I am encouraged that our research continues to translate into practical policy outcomes, with our recommendations adopted in the Government’s 2026-27 Budget. Our proposals relating to financial services, innovation and technology, enterprises going global, regional connectivity and education have gained encouraging traction. Research on hydrogen energy, housing supply and green mega-events have stimulated wide public discussion, while several of our infrastructure recommendations have been incorporated into feasibility studies, including the link for Hong Kong – Shenzhen Airports and Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy.
But long-term economic development is not our only focus.
When I last wrote to you, Hong Kong was mourning the tragic Tai Po fire. Like many of you, I was deeply moved by the professionalism, courage, compassion and resilience shown by our firefighters, healthcare professionals, social workers, the volunteers and the people.
As a think tank, our responsibility was different. We asked ourselves what lessons should be learned—not only about the safety of building maintenance projects, but also about helping communities recover after tragedy.
This led us to undertake two complementary research projects. One examined reform of building governance, maintenance oversight and property management. The other explored how a government can adopt trauma-informed measures to strengthen community recovery, resilience and social healing after major disasters.
To broaden this discussion, we invited Melbourne-based psychiatrist Dr. Eugen Koh to Hong Kong to share his international experience in Northern Ireland, Fukushima and Central Australia in supporting communities to recover from public traumas. His valuable experiences helped introduce new perspectives on collective trauma and long-term community resilience.
Looking Ahead
Hong Kong has every reason to face the future with confidence.
Periods of profound changes inevitably bring uncertainty. But they also create new opportunities for societies that are willing to think ahead, embrace innovation and adapt with purpose. Hong Kong has repeatedly demonstrated such an ability throughout its history.
As our city prepares its first Five-Year Plan, OHKF will continue to contribute by bringing together ideas, encouraging informed dialogue and helping translate long-term vision into workable policy.
History seldom announces when a new chapter begins. But collectively we are writing one for Hong Kong now. And I thank you for your continued friendship and support. Your confidence enables OHKF to pursue independent research, convene meaningful conversations and contribute constructively to our home city and our country. We are deeply grateful for your trust, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.
With warmest regards,
Jane Lee
President
Our Hong Kong Foundation
Dear Friends of Our Hong Kong Foundation,
Warmest greetings. I hope you and your family are keeping well amidst the recent spell of extreme rainfall and record heat.
Looking back over the past three years since I became President of Our Hong Kong Foundation, I am struck by how quickly predictability has given way to uncertainty.
The international landscape has been reshaped by heightened geopolitical conflicts, regional tensions, disruptions to global energy supply and growing economic fragmentation. At the same time, the AI revolution has arrived with astonishing speed. In just a few short years, AI has moved from the realm of possibility to everyday reality, challenging long-held assumptions about competitiveness, productivity, and even the nature of education and work.
Together, these developments are prompting governments around the world to rethink how to plan for the future. Long-term strategic thinking has never been more important.
Against this backdrop, Hong Kong has arrived at a defining moment of its own. For the first time in our city’s history, we are preparing a Five-Year Plan. This is far more than another government policy initiative. It is an unprecedented opportunity to look beyond immediate challenges, think strategically about the future, and define how Hong Kong can best contribute to national development in an increasingly complex world.
Supporting this process has therefore become one of OHKF’s foremost priorities.
Understanding China
We have all witnessed China's extraordinary transformation in the past 40 years from a poor and struggling nation to a modern and technologically most advanced country. While many westerners still criticize China as a copycat or simply dismiss it through the labels of “communist” and “autocratic,” few have seriously sought to understand how it has achieved so much and so fast.
Since joining OHKF, one of the most valuable lessons I have learned has been about the Mainland’s approach to long-term planning.
Based on our studies, the national five-year plans play a key role. Learning from the successes and mistakes of its first three decades, China has since 1981 developed a hybrid socialist market economy. Under this system, the Central Government strengthens its governance by delegating and empowering local authorities under its overarching national strategic goals.
The system encourages home-grown invention and innovation while facilitating constructive competition within its huge domestic market. Whether in AI or the space economy, the diversity and vitality of China’s private sector companies are ahead of the rest of the world.
China is also leading in renewable energy and is on track to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. It has eradicated poverty that once plagued the country. The targets set in successive five-year plans were real, not decorative, and all were achieved. There is so much we can learn from our mother country.
I dare not claim to know China, for “Understanding China” is a book that never ends: great achievements continue to be made and new challenges continue to emerge, as they do in every country. Every page I turn opens a new world, sometimes affirming my views and sometimes challenging them. I am reminded of this as I read Joe Ngai’s new book, The Next China Is Still China. It is an inspiring book that gives me new questions to ponder and new ideas to explore. The more I learn about China, the more I realise how little I know. Let’s continue this delightful journey of discovery together—for the good of Hong Kong.
Planning for Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s circumstances are, of course, different. Our greatest strengths have always been our openness, entrepreneurial spirit, rule of law and deep international connections. Yet strategic planning and market dynamism are not opposing ideas. They complement one another.
Indeed, Hong Kong’s unique advantage lies in combining the strengths of both.
Our task is to build on what makes Hong Kong distinctive: remaining one of the world’s freest and most internationally connected economies while aligning our long-term development with national priorities where our strengths can make the greatest contribution. That combination is something neither a purely free-market system nor a planned economy can fully achieve on its own.
Recently, I published an article advocating Hong Kong to draw reference from the San Francisco Bay Area and initiate a platform with GBA to mediate and build consensus. I trust that we could learn from the San Francisco experience and explore how we could better integrate Hong Kong with GBA.
With this conviction, OHKF has devoted much of the first half of this year to fostering dialogue on Hong Kong’s future. We organised study sessions on the National 15th Five-Year Plan with leading scholars from China Development Institute and National Development and Reform Commission’s Macroeconomic Research Institute, followed by discussions with academics, business leaders and policy experts from across the GBA.
Most recently, we submitted our recommendations to the government as part of the public consultation on Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address. Although our proposals covered a broad range of economic, social and technological issues, they were united by a single underlying theme: the people. Whether the issue is about talent, education, housing, healthcare, ageing or cross-boundary mobility, people ultimately lie at the heart of every long-term development strategy.
In our submission paper, we emphasised the need to re-consider our population policy and our liveability to attract and retain talents. Both concepts require strong policy implementation capacity under the executive-led system through enhanced cross-bureau collaboration and a culture that fosters a more proactive and innovative mindset.
To achieve policy continuity and adaptability beyond any single government tenure, robust government processes are as important as broad societal participation. An inclusive rolling planning will help maintain long-term direction, track progress, refine measures in response to changing circumstances and sustain momentum.
Research Impact
I am encouraged that our research continues to translate into practical policy outcomes, with our recommendations adopted in the Government’s 2026-27 Budget. Our proposals relating to financial services, innovation and technology, enterprises going global, regional connectivity and education have gained encouraging traction. Research on hydrogen energy, housing supply and green mega-events have stimulated wide public discussion, while several of our infrastructure recommendations have been incorporated into feasibility studies, including the link for Hong Kong – Shenzhen Airports and Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy.
But long-term economic development is not our only focus.
When I last wrote to you, Hong Kong was mourning the tragic Tai Po fire. Like many of you, I was deeply moved by the professionalism, courage, compassion and resilience shown by our firefighters, healthcare professionals, social workers, the volunteers and the people.
As a think tank, our responsibility was different. We asked ourselves what lessons should be learned—not only about the safety of building maintenance projects, but also about helping communities recover after tragedy.
This led us to undertake two complementary research projects. One examined reform of building governance, maintenance oversight and property management. The other explored how a government can adopt trauma-informed measures to strengthen community recovery, resilience and social healing after major disasters.
To broaden this discussion, we invited Melbourne-based psychiatrist Dr. Eugen Koh to Hong Kong to share his international experience in Northern Ireland, Fukushima and Central Australia in supporting communities to recover from public traumas. His valuable experiences helped introduce new perspectives on collective trauma and long-term community resilience.
Looking Ahead
Hong Kong has every reason to face the future with confidence.
Periods of profound changes inevitably bring uncertainty. But they also create new opportunities for societies that are willing to think ahead, embrace innovation and adapt with purpose. Hong Kong has repeatedly demonstrated such an ability throughout its history.
As our city prepares its first Five-Year Plan, OHKF will continue to contribute by bringing together ideas, encouraging informed dialogue and helping translate long-term vision into workable policy.
History seldom announces when a new chapter begins. But collectively we are writing one for Hong Kong now. And I thank you for your continued friendship and support. Your confidence enables OHKF to pursue independent research, convene meaningful conversations and contribute constructively to our home city and our country. We are deeply grateful for your trust, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.
With warmest regards,
Jane Lee
President
Our Hong Kong Foundation
