Hong Kong’s leader has promised to assist local media organisations in expanding their networks beyond the city, while pledging not to interfere in their operations.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Wednesday made a rare move by mentioning assistance for the media in his policy address, and also later acknowledged the challenges facing the sector.

“The government will assist the local media to expand their networks beyond Hong Kong, telling the good stories of Hong Kong,” he said in his policy blueprint.

Elaborating on the measure during a press conference after his speech, Lee said he hoped to promote local media, which he described as professional and of a high standard, to places outside Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong has a lot of good things to offer to the world, one being the media,” Lee said.

“What I intend to do is, we do it slowly and progressively because this is the first time. I think of working together to tell the good Hong Kong story through different sectors, participants and leaders,” he said.