Hong Kong Hosts Seminar on Fourth Plenary Session of CPC Central Committee, Discussing Economic Development Plans

HKSAR Government holds first seminar on promotion of spirit of Fourth Plenary Session of 20th CPC Central Committee today (with photos/video)

​Upon the invitation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, with the approval of the Central People's Government, the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council invited the member of the publicity delegation, the President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mr Hou Jianguo, and the member of the publicity delegation, the Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs and the Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Rural Affairs, CPC, Mr Zhu Weidong, to visit Hong Kong to speak on the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC Central Committee). The HKSAR Government today (November 24) held the first seminar on the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee at the Central Government Offices.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Zhou Ji, delivered speeches at the seminar. Mr Hou and Mr Zhu gave presentations respectively, providing in-depth explanations of the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee as well as the key contents and significance of the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. The two members of the publicity delegation also responded to questions raised by participants. Mr Lee delivered concluding remarks.

He said, "The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee holds great significance. It is an important meeting convened at a critical juncture which falls on the successful conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the preparatory period of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Studying and implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee well is a major task for us. At present, the world is undergoing accelerated transformations unseen in a century, but transformations often come with opportunities. The Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan focus on high-quality development, achieving self-reliance and strength in science and technology through cultivating "new quality productive forces", and promoting high-level opening up, which bring historical opportunities to Hong Kong. We must gain a deep understanding of the guiding ideology, major principles, as well as the objectives and tasks, for the economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year period, assist Hong Kong in solidly advancing various measures for its economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year period, actively align with the national 15th Five-Year Plan, comprehensively promote the development of finance and innovation and technology as dual engines, engage in broader and closer exchanges and co-operation around the globe, and actively integrate into and serve the overall strategy of national development."

In his address, Mr Zhou said that the first seminar by the central authorities' publicity delegation in Hong Kong was targeted at the HKSAR's governance team, which fully demonstrated the Central People's Government's high regard for the Chief Executive and the governance team, their deep concern for Hong Kong compatriots, and their strong support for Hong Kong's development. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee has made top-level designs and strategic plans for the country's development over the next five years, and has also provided clear guidance for Hong Kong's economic and social development. He believed that through this briefing, everyone would be able to further strengthen their confidence in victory from the achievements of national development, better recognise opportunities and prospects from the current situation and tasks, grasp more accurately the direction of development from the Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, fully leverage the institutional strengths of "one country, two systems" and the unique advantages of connecting the Mainland and the world, promote Hong Kong's better integration into and service to the overall national development, and continuously opening up new horizons for the high-quality development of the cause of "one country, two systems".

Mr Zhu provided a comprehensive, systematic and in-depth interpretation around the great significance of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, the situation and tasks for the national economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year period, and the guiding principles and main objectives for the economic and social development. He elaborated on the seven major objectives to be focused on during the 15th Five-Year period, namely significant achievements in high-quality development, substantial improvements in scientific and technological self-reliance and strength, fresh breakthroughs in further deepening reform comprehensively; notable cultural and ethical progress across society, further improvements in quality of life, major new strides in advancing the Beautiful China Initiative, and further advances in strengthening the national security shield. He indicated that the formulation and implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan will inject strong development momentum into Hong Kong, and Hong Kong should better integrate into and serve the overall national development and participate in national strategies such as the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with development opportunities becoming more numerous and development vitality growing ever stronger.

Mr Hou introduced the strategic tasks and major measures that have significant traction, driving and supporting roles in advancing Chinese modernisation during the 15th Five-Year period by fields, including building a modernised industrial system, achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, building a robust domestic market, moving faster to develop a high-standard socialist market economy, promoting high-standard opening up, accelerating agricultural and rural modernisation, promoting coordinated regional development, fostering a thriving socialist culture, working harder to ensure and improve public wellbeing, accelerating the green transition in all areas of economic and social development, modernising China's national security system and capacity, as well as promoting high-quality modernisation of national defence and the armed forces. Having regard to the plans and requirements set out in the Recommendations regarding scientific and technological innovation and the development of innovation hub, he suggested that Hong Kong leverage its own strengths and advantages, strengthen forward-looking and pioneering basic research, expand the development and openness of application scenarios, and build a hub for high-calibre talents as well as an open platform hub for global scientific and technological cooperation.

About 500 people attended today's first seminar, including principal officials of the HKSAR Government, representatives of the Executive Council, representatives of the Legislative Council, representatives from the Judiciary, and heads of major statutory bodies.

The HKSAR Government will hold the second seminar on promotion of the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee tomorrow at 9.30am. Arrangements have been made for Radio Television Hong Kong and the government website to broadcast the seminar live in full for citizens to listen and watch.

HKSAR Government holds first seminar on promotion of spirit of Fourth Plenary Session of 20th CPC Central Committee today (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR Government holds first seminar on promotion of spirit of Fourth Plenary Session of 20th CPC Central Committee today (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR Government holds first seminar on promotion of spirit of Fourth Plenary Session of 20th CPC Central Committee today (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR Government holds first seminar on promotion of spirit of Fourth Plenary Session of 20th CPC Central Committee today (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR Government holds first seminar on promotion of spirit of Fourth Plenary Session of 20th CPC Central Committee today (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses

Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.

"In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so," a spokesman for the BD said.

Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.

The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:

(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.

(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.

"The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation," the spokesman added.

To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD's website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.

Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD's website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.

Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.

Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.

Source: AI-found images