I spoke to Javier Hernandez, The Times’s China correspondent who will be covering the speech, about what to expect.

How important are policy addresses in Hong Kong, typically?

The speech is a chance for Hong Kong’s leader to set priorities and unveil policies on issues like housing, taxes and the environment. It’s sort of like the State of the Union in the United States. The political class watches it intensely, but the broader public might not follow every word.

Why is this time different?

Hong Kong is in political crisis. Pro-democracy protests have continued for more than four months, and they seem to be getting more violent. Mrs. Lam faces pressure to use this speech to help defuse the crisis. All eyes will be on her. But she is unlikely to address issues that the protesters have emphasized, including free elections and greater police accountability. So tensions are likely to continue for some time.

What are you expecting her to say?

Mrs. Lam has said she plans to focus on economic issues in her speech, including increasing the supply of affordable housing. The government believes Hong Kong’s vast inequality is the root of the unrest. But many protesters will tell you that they care about politics, not economics. They want Hong Kong to have greater autonomy from Beijing, and they say they will not rest until the government grants free elections.

Related: Hong Kong’s demonstrators have started boycotting or vandalizing global businesses, including Starbucks and the video game company Activision Blizzard, that they perceive as being sympathetic toward the Chinese Communist Party.

LeBron James: The Los Angeles Lakers star said that an N.B.A. executive’s post about the Hong Kong protests could have endangered traveling players.

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