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.
[8] Many people see the Policy Address as a 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.