'HK should draft comprehensive 5-year plan'

Executive Councillor Jeffrey Lam on Sunday said Hong Kong’s first five-year plan should be well-rounded as it would set a clear direction for the SAR’s development. Speaking after a Commercial Radio programme, he said the plan would help Hong Kong go forward in both business and livelihood issues. “We want people in Hong Kong to be happy; we want business to be prosperous. So it has to be all-rounded, not just lopsided,” he said. Lam, who also serves as the chairman of the Vocational Training Council (VTC), highlighted the importance of embracing AI in driving development. “AI is something that we should let everybody in Hong Kong to know what we can do to help businesses or even families. And we intend to have some introductory courses at VTC so that people understand what AI is all about,” he said. “Different businesses may need different AIs, and we are ready to serve the Hong Kong businesses, to work with them, to make something that will coincide with what they need to do.” But Lam noted that AI could not replace humans and should be used with caution. Meanwhile, lawmaker and Hong Kong Productivity Council chairman Sunny Tan said the business community welcomed a five-year blueprint for Hong Kong. “China becomes such a major driving force globally in the world. But at the same time, we are seeing the uncertainties in the international community. We are seeing the technological development just like an industrial revolution that's coming, being led by AI development,” he said. “All these things are giving us a major concern as to how things may evolve, especially in the business community, on the industrial side. And the answer to it is we need to embrace our own five-year plan, closely working with the government.” He added that Hong Kong should also embrace the national 15th Five-Year Plan and utilise new quality productive forces. Edited by Tony Sabine