HONG KONG – The Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Friday established a high-level preparatory group for aligning with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), in a bid to leverage the HKSAR’s role in legal and dispute resolution services in national development.

Chaired by Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok, the group convened its first meeting to discuss the department's key areas of development, staffing and resource allocation under the 15th Five-Year Plan, according to a statement released by the DoJ.

The group will start preparatory work for the upcoming release of the 15th Five-Year Plan, making more comprehensive, precise and detailed strategic arrangements for the national development blueprint, the statement noted.

“Once the contents and details of the 15th Five-Year Plan are released, the preparatory group will be converted into a working group to advance various tasks of proactively aligning with the 15th Five-Year Plan,” the statement read.

During the meeting, Lam said the HKSAR can strive to play its role in the 15th Five-Year Plan by showcasing its strengths in internationalized, high-standard, and highly credible legal and dispute resolution services, and by actively contributing to the training of international legal talent.

“By proactively aligning with the 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong will further contribute to the country's efforts in promoting the foreign-related rule of law and in building a higher-level of rule of law in China,” the secretary for justice pointed out.

As directed by the chief executive, the HKSAR’s five-year blueprint in aligning with the country's 15th Five-Year Plan will be completed within this year, further promoting the city’s better integration into and contribution to the overall national development.