Hong Kong must more actively integrate into and serve overall national development, and leverage its unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle to serve as a bridge between the country and the world during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki said on Tuesday.
He was speaking at a ceremony to announce the ten most important political, social and economic events recognized by the Hong Kong business community, organized by Hong Kong Commercial Daily and 20 business chambers and community organizations across the city. Numerous media outlets were partners for the ceremony, including China Daily Asia Pacific.
“The selection of ten major events enables us to examine the achievements of the administration and social development from the perspective of the business community, laying a more solid foundation for cooperation between the government, the business community and the public, and continuing to work together to contribute to the country and build Hong Kong,” Chan said.
Last October, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee adopted the "15th Five-Year Plan" recommendations, outlining a blueprint for the country's and Hong Kong's development over the next five years. The chief secretary said this will bring endless business opportunities and development space, making it not only a focus of the business community but also a major event of concern for all Hong Kong residents.
“The current-term government has consistently focused on consolidating the competitiveness of Hong Kong's traditional industries while vigorously developing new economic drivers,” Chan said. “Hong Kong has also been actively participating and contributing its strengths as well as strengthening cooperation to facilitate the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.”
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The administration will unite and lead Hong Kong society gradually out of the pain caused by the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire last November and will promote patriotic education through diverse means, Chan added.
The ten most important political, social and economic events of 2025 recognized by the Hong Kong business sector, in order of ascending importance, are: the sentencing of media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying; the military parade held on September 3 in Tiananmen Square; the opening of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone; Hong Kong’s initial public offering market being ranked global number one; the hosting of the 15th National Games jointly organized by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao; the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation; the opening of Kai Tak Sports Park; the China-United States tariff war truce; the 8th Legislative Council General Election; the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire; and the "15th Five-Year Plan" recommendations adopted by the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.
“These events last year reflected the tangible results achieved in our efforts to promote event-driven economies, build a mediation hub, and create an international education hub, which have also gained recognition from the business community, and have injected new momentum and brought new opportunities to Hong Kong's innovation, technology, culture, and tourism sectors,” Chan said.
Lan An, executive vice-president and executive editor-in-chief of Hong Kong Commercial Daily, said: “For over two decades, we have consistently reviewed and analyzed significant political and economic events each year from the perspective of Hong Kong's business sector, recording the pulse of the times, and conveying the voice of the business community.”
The awards ceremony is a bridge to connect government and business, to facilitate communication between society and the market, and to build consensus and strength, making it a highly credible and influential annual event and a business barometer in Hong Kong, Lan added.
