Hong Kong is preparing its own 15-year development blueprint, aligning its policy cycle with China's 15th five-year plan, amid a shift towards defining a distinct role for the city.

Hong Kong is preparing its own medium-term development blueprint alongside China’s coming 15th five-year plan, which officials have described as a “golden strategic period” for the city. This is more than a procedural shift. For the first time, Hong Kong is attempting to align its policy cycle in advance with national planning priorities, yet alignment on its own is not a strategy. The more pressing question is whether the city can define a role that is distinct, necessary and difficult to...