The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region should “proactively align with, and raise its hands” to help achieve national goals even if they aren’t explicitly assigned to it in the country’s sweeping national blueprint, Leung Chun-ying, the vice-chairman of the country’s top political advisory body, said of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) and the SAR’s role within it.

Leung, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), noted that the new socioeconomic roadmap has reaffirmed the central government’s backing for Hong Kong’s core strength as a global financial, shipping and trade hub — a status whose upholding will demand “long-term resolve” he said, but adding the city’s role in overall national development is “not confined” to these areas.

The SAR’s professional international trade services are especially suited to help carry Chinese mainland products and services of all sectors through their “final mile” to markets worldwide.

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Leung made the remarks at a press conference in Beijing, at a time when the country’s top legislative and political advisory bodies are days into their annual plenaries, also known as the national two sessions.

The fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress and the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC are slated to conclude on Thursday and Wednesday, respectively.

On deepening Hong Kong’s long-entrenched strongholds, Leung stressed the focus should be on “enhancement, elevation, going forward”, not merely “expansion (in scale)”.

To illustrate the point, he cited that whereas Hong Kong’s shipping sector has long revolved around shore-based activities for growth, London, the British capital with no leading ports by container volume, has built the world’s most valuable shipping services hub, largely cornering markets in high-value areas such as vessel sales and purchases, leasing, financing, registration, insurance and legal services.

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“(Such services) are of paramount importance to the country,” Leung said, and Hong Kong’s common law system and sound legal environment make it the “well-suited” candidate to become a national center for international maritime legal services.

“Elevating growth” requires long-term thinking, Leung said, adding that his partnership with the University of Hong Kong since last year to train young maritime legal professionals has an estimated 20-year horizon before they are ready to meet the country’s needs.

In future, the city must strive to provide more diversified, high-end, value-added financial services across various industries, according to Leung. He called not only for greater investment promotion but also for stronger public outreach to ensure young aspirants are aware of related career opportunities.

Leung brushed aside concerns that the SAR’s inaugural five-year plan— covering a period beyond the current administrative term — might lose steam.

“Straddled timelines of this kind are nothing new”, he said, “and major developments like the Northern Metropolis are by no means something that can be completed within a chief executive’s five-year tenure.”

“A five-year plan should not be viewed through a five-year lens”, he said, “we should adopt a longer view.”

Contact the writer at wanqing@chinadailyhk.com