Key takeaways from HK's 5-Year Plan & Policy Address

Chief Executive John Lee delivered Hong Kong's very first Five-Year Plan -- followed by this administration's fifth and last Policy Address at the Legislative Council today.

Here's the key takeaways from both blueprints.

Hong Kong's inaugural Five-Year Plan aligns the city's long-term strategy with China's 15th Five-Year Plan.

Stressing that the Plan and the latest Policy Address share a continuous relationship, Chief Executive John Lee first unveiled the Five-Year Plan, which is divided into seven parts with a total of 28 chapters.

An entire part was dedicated to the Northern Metropolis, which is positioned as a new engine driving Hong Kong's development with its three major innotech parks and three university towns in the Northern Metropolis.

The rest of the Plan highlights economy and trade, innovation and technology, people's livelihood, and regional co-operation within the Greater Bay Area.

The Policy Address, meanwhile, spotlights multiple livelihood-related policies, including extending the existing 20,000-dollar newborn baby bonus for three years and raising the bonus to 30,000 dollars for the second or subsequent child born.

The allowance for low-income carers will be increased by 10% to 3,300 dollars per month, with the establishment of community dining halls and admitting foreign domestic carers with more advanced training and experience in elderly care.

On reforms to the healthcare system, King's Park will see Hong Kong's first integrated ambulatory care hospital.

Government hotline 1823, which handles cross-departmental complaints, will improve its accountability mechanism with an 'AI City Brain" integrated system set up to strengthen urban management, risk alert and emergency response capabilities.