Policy Address

This article is about the address in Hong Kong. There is also Policy Address delivered by the Chief Executive of Macau.
Policy Address
Traditional Chinese施政報告
Simplified Chinese施政报告
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinshīzhèngbàogào
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingsi1 zing3 bou3 gou3
2013 Policy Address debated in Legco
2013 Policy Address by Leung Chun-ying

In Hong Kong, the Policy Address (Chinese: 施政報告) is the constitutionally mandated annual address delivered by the Chief Executive. The practice of giving annual Policy Addresses is mandated under Article 64 of the Basic Law, which requires the government to "present regular Policy Addresses to the [Legislative] Council".[1]

Chief Executive can decide in which month of the year to deliver the annual Policy Address. From 1997 to 2001, Tung Chee-hwa delivered Policy Addresses in October as the Legislative Council reconvened.[2] From 2002 to 2005, Tung changed the month of delivering Policy Addresses to January.[3] Donald Tsang delivered Policy Addresses in Octobers.[4] Leung Chun-ying delivered Policy Addresses in January.[5] Carrie Lam delivered Policy Addresses in October.[6] John Lee delivers Policy Addresses in October.[7]

Within 14 days after the delivery of the address, the Chairman of the House Committee of the Legislative Council will move a Motion of Thanks, similar to Address in Reply motions in other legislatures, and members of the Council debate the Policy Address.[8] Many people see the Policy Address as an useful way to predict how the Chief Executive will operate.[9]

Historically, the annual address was first introduced in 1972 by Governor Sir Murray MacLehose during the British rule of Hong Kong. It was called the "Address by the Governor" and was modelled after the Queen's address in the United Kingdom. It aimed to strengthen communications with Hong Kong residents after the 1967 Hong Kong riots.[10]

  1. ^ "Basic Law - Basic Law - Chapter IV (EN)". www.basiclaw.gov.hk. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  2. ^ "1997 Policy Address". www.policyaddress.gov.hk. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  3. ^ "policy address-archives". www.policyaddress.gov.hk. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  4. ^ "政務司司長會見傳媒談話全文". Hong Kong Government. 2 August 2012.
  5. ^ "Policy Address available to public on Wednesday". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin". Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  7. ^ "CE to deliver Policy Address on Oct 16". chinadailyhk. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  8. ^ "No.12 POLICY ADDRESS AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS". Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Exclusive | Hong Kong leader to deliver third policy address, how will it differ this time?". South China Morning Post. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  10. ^ 馮, 巧欣 (11 January 2016). 【01百科】6個關鍵詞 施政報告33年演化簡史 [【01 Encyclopaedia】 6 key terms and a simple history of the policy address' evolution over 33 years]. HK01.