Hong Kong’s chief executive said each of the government’s 15 policy secretaries should be the strongest person in their own field, describing his role as helping specialists perform at their best.
He made the remarks at a Legislative Council question-and-answer session on 17 September, a day after Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and the 2026 Policy Address were released. The session also covered artificial-intelligence development, labour issues and how Hong Kong presents itself.
The chief executive said an effective leader must establish a plan and direction, build and manage a team, secure its agreement and work with its members towards the same objectives. He compared the role with that of a ship’s captain, who might not be the person cooking or operating the telegraph but is responsible for assembling and leading the crew.
He said the chief executive should not compare his professional expertise with that of the policy secretaries. When they performed well in their own areas, he said, his responsibility was to help them perform even better.
He said the person in charge of the government was responsible for putting the five-year plan into effect, with the ultimate goal of putting people first and improving residents’ lives.
He also told legislators that their influence extended beyond reflecting public opinion. They should help guide it, avoid simply following attempts to stir conflict and pass on accurate information while carrying out their responsibilities, he said.