Highlights from Hong Kong's 2026 Policy Address

Think of the Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) as the big-picture roadmap, setting out long-term economic, structural, and social goals that align directly with national strategies. The Policy Address, on the other hand, acts as the annual action plan that turns those long-term goals into immediate initiatives, funding allocations, and specific targets for the year ahead.

In short, the Five-Year Plan tells us where we are heading by 2030, while the Policy Address outlines what is being put into action now.

The Northern Metropolis (NM) continues its transformation, moving forward with three university towns, dedicated development legislation, and streamlined rules to bring in institutions and tech hubs.

The government is also pressing ahead with the development of three major I&T Parks located in the NM, Pak Shek Kok, and Pok Fu Lam. Together, they form a ‘north-central-south’ layout, with each park focusing on the development of different fields such as AI, life and health technologies, data science, blockchain, fintech, and more.

Inspired by the city’s first payload expert, Lai Ka‑ying, authorities are expanding into the aerospace sector. The government has funded over 30 R&D centres, two of which are specifically for space missions, and launched the Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme to drive international cooperation and attract world-class researchers to the city.

To cultivate local talent from the ground up, the city is ramping up innovative science education by expanding the Hong Kong Space Museum’s Young Astronaut Training Camp to send 35 students to key mainland aerospace facilities next year, while also encouraging local schools to introduce aerospace-related academic programmes.

Hong Kong is advancing public infrastructure by integrating data platforms and public service frameworks. This includes deploying an ‘AI City Brain’ system designed to streamline emergency responses during extreme weather events and handle public order management. 

Simultaneously, artificial intelligence is being deployed across a wide range of everyday sectors. Housing and social welfare are getting smart upgrades, with a sum of $300 million allocated to set up the ‘AI for Welfare Lab’ and further improve social welfare services.

In healthcare, institutions like the Hospital Authority are coordinating the rollout of medical AI applications, while autonomous transport is taking off with driverless routes. The Hong Kong Tourism Board is introducing AI-personalised travel recommendations and smart mapping integrations, and public broadcasters like RTHK are adopting AI tools to enhance production efficiency.

To future-proof local talent and give young professionals a solid starting ground, the government is launching workforce initiatives across all levels. The flagship 30,000 Youth Employment and Internship Programme is a two-year initiative that will, hopefully, create 10,000 full-time jobs with government wage subsidies of up to $6,000/month per hire starting in Q1 of 2027. It is also funding 10,000 STEM and startup internships guaranteed at $11,000/month, as well as 1,000 specialised placements in financial services and international organisations like the UN.

Complementing youth entry programmes is a major push under the Upskill Hong Kong umbrella aimed at existing workers, where the government will launch a city-wide campaign to train over 40,000 employees in artificial intelligence tools across key industries.

The Newborn Baby Bonus scheme has been extended for three more years, continuing the $20,000 cash bonus for a first child while raising the bonus to $30,000 for a second or subsequent child born on or after September 16, 2026. This comes alongside an increased Child Tax Allowance of $160,000 for second and subsequent children and a $20,000 stamp duty concession for home-buying parents.

Beyond family planning, public health is getting a boost through the expansion of eHealth+, preparations for a third medical school, and the creation of a Centre for Medical Products Regulation to accelerate access to advanced treatments. Workplaces are also evolving, with new legal frameworks being established to better protect workers and delivery couriers with statutory compensation for injuries at work.

At the core of Hong Kong’s revised tourism strategy is the Take Forward ‘+ Tourism’ Joint Initiative. Central to this is the ‘Mega Events + Tourism’ concept, which structures the year into three themed seasons: the International Arts Season, the Chinese Arts Season, and the Festive Mega Events Season to keep the city’s event calendar full year-round.

To turn visitors into spenders, the city is also rolling out a range of lifestyle initiatives. This includes a new ‘Ticket Stub Economy’ that offers dining and retail discounts via the Discover Hong Kong app, tailored programmes like ‘Film + Tourism’ routes, more Halal options for Muslim travellers, streetscape renewals around Central and Lan Kwai Fong, simplified licensing for home-stay lodgings across the Outlying Islands, and more.

To read the complete documents, explore infographics, or check out specific policy details, visit the official government portals at policyaddress.gov.hk and hk5yplan.gov.hk.