Lee said the change is being made due to polls in December for the city’s legislature.
Public consultations ahead of the address will begin next Monday, the SAR leader announced ahead of this week’s Executive Council meeting, with more than 40 online and in-person sessions as well as two district forums.
“This year, I’m advancing the delivery of the Policy Address to September, because at the end of this year, there’ll be the Legislative Council general election. The Legislative Council’s term will end early,” he said.
“I’ll advance the consultation sessions on the Policy Address, because I take very seriously the communication and interaction between the executive [authorities] and the legislature. I need to have sufficient time to listen to the views of the public and different sectors.”
Lee set out 138 key performance indicators (KPIs) in his blueprint a year ago, which he said departments were able to meet.
“The policy objective of the government now is to strive for economic development and improve people’s livelihoods. That would be the focus of the Policy Address,” he said.
Asked about reports that director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Xia Baolong will visit Hong Kong this month, Lee said his administration will make announcements in due course if there is any information relating to the Beijing official’s activities.
Xia paid instruction tours to the SAR in 2023 and 2024.
