The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's first five-year plan is slated for release by year-end, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced on Tuesday, with public consultation planned in the fourth quarter.

Speaking to reporters ahead of an Executive Council meeting, Lee said the SAR government will set up a dedicated joint research and consultation mechanism with the city's legislature to meet what he described as a "tight drafting timeline".

According to Lee, the drafting process of Hong Kong's inaugural five-year plan, which he will personally oversee, will be spearheaded by the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau.

The mechanism will enable the bureau to work alongside relevant Legislative Council panels to conduct research and analysis, gather views from all fronts and ensure that findings are consolidated promptly to support an "executive-led formulation of the plan", Lee said.

He added that the drafting teams aim to complete their work within three to four months.

Lee cast the forthcoming development blueprint as the city's strategic move to align with the national 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), approved by the National People's Congress on Thursday.

The chief executive said alignment would bring "opportunities, business and talent" to Hong Kong, citing the scale of China's 1.4-billion population, vast consumer market and its advances in artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies.

"The nation's development is a tailwind for Hong Kong," Lee said.

The plan is expected to further consolidate Hong Kong's established competitive advantages and allow residents to see more clearly the city's direction for the coming half decade, Lee said, adding that it would aim to create a "virtuous cycle of growth and better livelihoods".

Starry Lee Wai-king, president of the Legislative Council, welcomed the new collaborative mechanism with the legislature, calling it an "innovatively groundbreaking approach" that "further demonstrates positive interaction between the city's executive and legislature has scaled new heights."

LegCo will fully support the mechanism, Starry Lee Wai-king said, pledging to "spare no effort" in gathering views, conducting research and analysis, and pooling expertise to help draw up "an important blueprint" for the city aligned with the national 15th Five-Year Plan.

During a sharing session on the gist of this year's two sessions, Ko Wing-man, a Hong Kong member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the city's first five-year plan will enable it to better align with national development and provide a framework for future policy addresses and budgets.

At a separate event, Lau Chi-pang, a CPPCC National Committee member from the SAR, said the blueprint will set directions not only for the current-term government but also for the next administration in 2027, thereby ensuring development continuity and enhancing governance efficiency.

He called for enhanced engagement between the executive and legislature during the planning process, particularly outside the chamber, and urged adherence to the executive-led system in implementing the plan, with the executive, legislature and judiciary jointly serving the public.

Stacy Shi contributed to this story.