HONG KONG, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The launch of Hong Kong's inaugural five-year plan represented a proactive push by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to seize growth opportunities, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee said on Thursday.

Lee made the remarks in an interview after unveiling the HKSAR's milestone five-year plan for economic and social development (2026-2030) earlier this week, adding that its rollout in tandem with the national 15th Five-Year Plan was "no coincidence."

The blueprint sets out 105 core development indicators through 2030, marking the first systematic medium-to-long-term development framework for the financial hub since its return to the motherland in 1997.

From industrial development to regional cooperation, the plan was grounded in national policies for Hong Kong, aligning directly with the country's overarching strategy.

Looking back on the drafting process, the chief executive said it had prompted reflections on the city's competitive standing.

"We conducted a self-assessment: Where are Hong Kong's strengths and weaknesses? What are our opportunities and risks? We must handle all four areas well," he said.

On strengths, the plan outlined measures to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international financial, maritime and trade center, and to develop it into a global hub for high-caliber talent.

"What we do well, we must do even better," Lee stressed, vowing to beef up strengths in new areas such as international legal and dispute resolution, intellectual property trading and cultural and arts exchanges, further upgrading its international competitiveness.

The chief executive identified economic diversification as a key task in the coming five years, saying moving beyond service sectors such as finance and trade would help the city foster high-value industries and raise incomes.

A major driver of that shift is the Northern Metropolis. Covering around a third of Hong Kong's land area, the Northern Metropolis is expected to eventually house about a third of its population and become a key zone for economic growth and social well-being.

Lee underscored Hong Kong's unique advantages of enjoying the backing of the motherland and being open to the world under the "one country, two systems" framework.

The blueprint plans to better align Hong Kong with the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and deepen integration with the Chinese mainland.

So far, Hong Kong has set up regional cooperation mechanisms with nine areas in the Chinese mainland.

On global links, Lee stressed that Hong Kong will play its part as a "super-connector" to help Belt and Road participating countries and regions access the Chinese mainland market, thus contributing to the country's high-standard opening-up.

Indicators are vital to ensuring the delivery of the plan, Lee said, adding that the 105 indicators set out in the five-year plan are mapped directly to 284 concrete measures in the 2026 policy address, a ratio of roughly one target to three actionable steps.

The chief executive stressed that the plan "was not empty words," pledging strict accountability to turn the blueprint into concrete actions.

"If targets are not met, we will investigate the reasons and hold people accountable," he said.

From annual policy address to the systematic planning of the five-year blueprint, Hong Kong's governance model is undergoing a significant transition.

"The ultimate goal of governance is to improve people's livelihoods," Lee said, expressing confidence in meeting the targets in the blueprint. "We must pool our strength to make sure we get it done well."