Policy address
# Policy address

Policy Address (Chinese: 施政報告) is the annual address by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong (Governor prior to the handover). The practice of giving annual policy address is mandated under Article 64 of the Basic Law, requiring the government to "present regular policy addresses to the Council".

The policy address was first introduced during the colonial period by Governor Sir Murray MacLehose in 1972 as "Address by His Excellency the Governor". It was modelled after the Queen's Speech in the United Kingdom and aimed to strengthen the communications with Hong Kong residents after the Hong Kong 1967 Leftist riots.

It used to be addressed in October, on the opening of the Legislative Council. In 2002, former Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa changed it unilaterally to January, but it was returned to October by his successor, Donald Tsang. After Leung Chun-ying succeeded Tsang in 2012, he changed the policy address back to January. It was again changed back to October after Carrie Lam became Chief Executive in 2017.

Two weeks after the address, the chairman of the House Committee of the Legislative Council moves a Motion of Thanks, similar to Address in Reply motions in other legislatures, and members of the Council debate the Policy Address.

Most people see the policy address as useful and a way of predicting how the Chief Executive will operate.

## List of policy addresses

| Year | Given by | English title | Chinese title |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2022 | John Lee Ka-chiu | "Charting a Brighter Tomorrow for Hong Kong" | 為市民謀幸福　為香港謀發展 |
| 2021 | Carrie Lam | "Building a Bright Future Together" | 齊心同行 開創未來 |
| 2020 | Carrie Lam | "Striving Ahead with Renewed Perseverance" | 砥礪前行 重新出發 |
| 2019 | Carrie Lam | "Treasure Hong Kong: Our Home" | 珍惜香港 共建家園 |
| 2018 | Carrie Lam | "Striving Ahead; Rekindling Hope" | 堅定前行 燃點希望 |
| 2017 | Carrie Lam | "We Connect for Hope and Happiness" | 一起同行 擁抱希望 分享快樂 |
| 2017 | Leung Chun-ying | "Make Best Use of Opportunities; Develop the Economy; Improve People’s Livelihood; Build an Inclusive Society" | 用好機遇 發展經濟 改善民生 和諧共融 |
| 2016 | Leung Chun-ying | "Innovate for the Economy; Improve Livelihood; Foster Harmony; Share Prosperity" | 創新經濟 改善民生 促進和諧 繁榮共享 |
| 2015 | Leung Chun-ying | "Uphold the Rule of Law; Seize the Opportunities; Make the Right Choices" | 重法治 掌機遇 作抉擇 |
| 2014 | Leung Chun-ying | "Support the Needy; Let Youth Flourish; Unleash Hong Kong's Potential" | 讓有需要的 得到支援 讓年青的 各展所長 讓香港 得以發揮 |
| 2013 | Leung Chun-ying | "Seek Change; Maintain Stability; Serve the People with Pragmatism" | 穩中求變 務實為民 |
| 2011–12 | Donald Tsang | "From Strength to Strength" | 繼往開來 |
| 2010–11 | Donald Tsang | "Sharing Prosperity for a Caring Society" | 民心我心 同舟共濟 繁榮共享 |
| 2009–10 | Donald Tsang | "Breaking New Ground Together" | 羣策創新天 |
| 2008–09 | Donald Tsang | "Embracing New Challenges" | 迎接新挑戰 |
| 2007–08 | Donald Tsang | "A New Direction for Hong Kong" | 香港新方向 |
| 2006–07 | Donald Tsang | "Proactive; Pragmatic; Always People First" | 以民為本 務實進取 |
| 2005–06 | Donald Tsang | "Strong Governance For the People" | 強政勵治 福為民開 |
| 2005 | Tung Chee-hwa | "Working Together for Economic Development and Social Harmony" | 合力發展經濟 共建和諧社會 |
| 2004 | Tung Chee-hwa | "Seizing Opportunities for Development; Promoting People-based Governance" | 把握發展機遇 推動民本施政 |
| 2003 | Tung Chee-hwa | "Capitalising on Our Advantages Revitalising Our Economy" | 善用香港優勢 共同振興經濟 |
| 2001 | Tung Chee-hwa | "Building on our Strengths; Investing in our Future" | 鞏固實力 投資未來 |
| 2000 | Tung Chee-hwa | "Serving the Community; Sharing Common Goals" | 以民為本 同心同德 |
| 1999 | Tung Chee-hwa | "Quality People; Quality Home" | 培育優秀人才 建設美好家園 |
| 1998 | Tung Chee-hwa | "From Adversity to Opportunity" | 羣策羣力 轉危為機 |
| 1997 | Tung Chee-hwa | "Building Hong Kong For A New Era" | 共創香港新紀元 |
| 1996 | Chris Patten | "Hong Kong: Transition" | 過渡中的香港 |
| 1995 | Chris Patten | "Hong Kong: Our Work Together" | 同心協力建香港 |
| 1994 | Chris Patten | "Hong Kong: A Thousand Days and Beyond" | 香港：掌握千日 跨越九七 |
| 1993 | Chris Patten | "Hong Kong: Today's Success, Tomorrow's Challenges" | 香港：立基今日 開拓明天 |
| 1992 | Chris Patten | "Our Next Five Years: The Agenda for Hong Kong" | 香港的未來：五年大計展新猷 |

There were no titles for the Policy Addresses before 1992.

