Hong Kong is ready to enter the Year of the Horse, but the past Year of the Snake was tough. Many say the Year of the Snake means change and discomfort. For Hong Kong, it was a time of revealing weaknesses. Early in the year, Xia Baolong from Beijing visited to push Hong Kong and Macau for faster progress. This was seen as a sign to speed up work on China’s 14th five-year plan. Hong Kong, known for efficiency, was criticized for lagging behind. The city’s leadership seemed to learn its lesson. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced a new five-year plan for Hong Kong to match China’s national blueprint. The government also faced problems with daily management. In March, some people sneaked into Kai Tak Sports Park without tickets, breaking security. Later, snooker fans were forced to leave a match early due to a venue curfew, sparking global news. The government then tried to introduce premium taxis to compete with unregulated ride-sharing platforms. A new law was passed to regulate ride-sharing, a bill delayed for years. However, the premium taxi idea did not catch on strongly. The government faces clear challenges but is working on changes as it moves forward.