In Hong Kong, the Policy Address 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]
There were no titles for the Policy Addresses before 1992.