"To foster a sustained and relatively rapid economic development, the government should assist investors, large and small, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, to explore new opportunities for development," according to his official website.

Leung has proposed the establishment of a financial development council to consolidate and develop Hong Kong as an international financial center, and to enhance the city's role as a RMB offshore business center.

His policies also include closer cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland, so that Hong Kong businesses can gain greater access to the mainland market.

On Sunday, Wen Wei Po reported that Leung had made 21 detailed proposals concerning education, including plans to introduce 15 years of free education for each public school student to replace the current 12-year system, to increase the subsidies for whole-day child care centers and kindergartens, and to increase research funding for universities.

Medical resources

In terms of medical and health services, the subject that gave rise to the most concern is that of pregnant women from the mainland, whose husbands are not Hong Kong residents, giving birth in the city.

Leung suggested that the city should restrict the flow of pregnant women from the mainland at border control points, to alleviate the pressure on local medical services, according to reports in China Daily's Hong Kong edition in December.

Leung's pledges on social welfare included the instigation of a special allowance, in addition to the existing old age allowance, so that elderly people in need will receive roughly double the allowance of HK$2,200 ($280) each month after a simple declaration of income and assets, Wen Wei Po reported.

The policy platform, published on Leung's official website, also included a promise to study ways in which Hong Kong can cooperate with the mainland to offer support services, such as providing housing and medical care for elderly people who choose to retire to their ancestral hometowns.

Li Jing and Wu Wencong contributed to this story.