新民黨 發布地區經濟狀況問卷調查結果
日期︰2024 年 7 月 19 日
香港零售消費市場疲弱,加上疫後市民生活習慣改變,大灣區消費成為趨勢,結業潮由核心商業區蔓延至社區。新民黨在今年5月至6月期間展開地區經濟狀況問卷調查,圍繞全港各社區內商場及街市的營運狀況進行,希望了解居民對社區商業購物設施管理狀況的意見,評估趨勢有否對居民日常生活構成影響,更全面客觀地掌握地區經濟現狀。
新民黨副主席暨立法會議員容海恩女士、新民黨執委暨立法會議員陳家珮女士、新民黨中委暨立法會議員李梓敬先生、新民黨中委暨立法會議員何敬康先生、新民黨副主席暨沙田區議員潘國山先生,聯同多名新民黨區議員及社區發展主任,於今早(19日)公布結果並分享各區詳細情況。
新民黨於今年5月21日至6月11日期間,在全港 18 區以問卷調查方式訪問3477 名市民及 409 個小商戶。整體而言,近半數(49%)受訪者指疫後區內商場及街市的人流有所減少,而認為情況無改變的佔 27%,指人流增加的只有 24%。同時, 47%受訪者認為商場及街市店舖空置有增加,認為疫後空置減少的只有 20%。若果按區議會分區統計,表示人流減少的受訪者佔比最高的地區為灣仔區(72%),其次為北區(69%)。在店舖空置情況方面,認為情況惡化的受訪者佔比最高的地區為北區(74%),其次為大埔區(61%)。
在物價方面,超過一半(52%)受訪者認為疫後物價有上升,表示物價下降的只有 28%。值得注意的是,離島區有 93%受訪者表示物價上升,遠超第二名南區(75%)和第三名東區(68%)。在方便程度方面,大部分受訪居民(77%)滿意區內商場及街市提供的商品種類數目,認為足夠應付日常基本需要,當中更有 19%認為商品種類繁多。值得留意的是,在南區 237 名受訪者中,高達 52%表示生活不便,需要到區外購買日用品,比例遠高於整體的 21%。
當被問及租金下調能否對現有情況帶來改善時,64%受訪者表示認同,表示不認同的只有 12%。在地區營商環境方面,受訪的 409 名小商戶中,有 55%表示疫情後租金有所上升,指租金有下調的只有 20%。接近六成(59%)的受訪商戶表示疫情後營業額下降,而指營業額有上升的只有 13%。(調查的詳細結果詳見附件)
新民黨副主席暨立法會議員容海恩女士表示,「新民黨不時收到小商戶求助,指疫後街市和商舖的人流大大減少,加上租金的沉重壓力,讓他們經營非常困難。小商戶面對經營環境日益嚴峻,引起區內零售商舖長遠是否能滿足市民需要的憂患。新民黨建議政府帶頭房委會及食環署轄下街市、商場、商舖的租金,或提供彈性租金安排,紓緩區內商舖空置率上升的問題;除此之外,單靠租金下調未必能提高人流,因此政府應加強商業思維改善轄下商舖的營商環境,應更有策略地引入租戶。」
新民黨執委暨立法會議員陳家珮女士舉例指:「房委會轄下的重點項目油塘大本型商場,在經營上花了很多心思,當空置率上升時,會推出不少新點子,如泊車優惠、轉換商舖形式、吸引親子客戶等,希望房委會可以運用相同力度和心思,經營其他地區的街市。」
新民黨中委暨立法會議員李梓敬先生指出新界東北一帶居民經常「北上買餸」,加上政府有關部門經營街市不善,導致居民習慣到其他較大型的街市購物,他建議對於一些小型街市,可考慮差異化服務或產品,如針對特定種類產品、高端化、提供特定服務如托兒服務等,以活化街市改善營商環境。
新民黨中委暨立法會議員何敬康先生指,儘管租金下調可減少經營成本,但長遠而言,若人流和生意額低,都只能「捱多一陣」,不足以振興地區經濟;不少商舖反映政府「日夜都繽紛」計劃成效不大,期望政府研究商業策略增高人流。
新民黨副主席暨沙田區議員潘國山先生認為房屋署官員對街市營運不上心,面積、單位間隔、租務、行業劃分的政策仍等留在五十至七十年代,政府可硏究為基層政府人員提升街市營運質素提供誘因。
新民黨南區區議員黃雨程女士舉例指,位於南區中心點的香港仔街市進行翻新工程期間,不少居民已轉變購物模式,現時重新開業後街市每層的空置情況嚴重,即使是高峰時段,人流亦不多,商戶難以支撐下去。
新民黨社區發展主任崔添偉先生指,南區華富邨展開重建,華富街市的人流開始減少,但不應放棄現時還居住在附近的居民和長者。他指現時商舖結構較單調,希望未來改善商舖結構和組合,以增加人流,避免依賴區內長者消費。
新民黨東區區議員郭浩景先生表示,雖然東區的主要商場沒有空置舖位,但留意最近一些大型時裝品牌和食肆開始遷出,東區居民亦反映區內物價上升,他將持續監察情況。
新民黨東區區議員劉聖雪女士指出「東區的鰂魚涌街市和愛秩序街市屬於空置情況嚴重的街市,現時甚至已經『十室九空』,區內居民反映由於鰂魚涌街市選擇不多,他們較少會到此購物,而傾向到周邊的大型連鎖店或商場。」她建議政府將空置舖位借用予關愛隊、綠在區區、非牟利機構等使用,以增加人流。
新民黨沙田區議員姚嘉俊先生說,目前新屋邨商場出租情況未如理想,同時舊屋邨商場的空置率高,他建議政府應透過較相宜的租金,引入能滿足居民日常所需的小商戶,達致「社區內循環」。
沙田區議員郭宣彤女士建議政府設立「主題街市」,例如東涌有街市以「九龍城寨」作為主題,因應有相同主題電影熱賣,吸引了不少內地遊客前來「打卡」;例如在一些長者較多的屋邨,可設立樂齡科技的展位,或引入安老機構提供服務,如在一些較多兒童的地區,引入托兒服務,以作出差異化競爭,甚至可吸引遊客。
新民黨沙田區議員梁家瑋先生指出,沙田新田圍及秦石邨一帶居民因附近街市選擇不多,習慣到更大型的街市購物;導致由於生意額不多,不少商戶都不會續租;他建議政府帶頭將「日夜都繽紛」與商舖結合,讓更多人留在本區消費。
新民黨沙田區議員林宇星先生稱,商場營商強弱懸殊的情況嚴重,如大圍圍方開業時更出現萬人空巷的情況,而一些公營屋邨商場由於位置及經營策略問題,則十室九空。他指房署在2019年10月起提供了51個月的租金援助,但踏入2024年,商戶未能承擔高昂的市值租金,將被迫結業。他強調若租金不減,人流不變,情況只會愈來愈嚴重。
新民黨大埔區議員陳建君女士認為政府應善用空置街市,改造為特定服務區域,如專門出售植物、提供改衣服務等,同時可考慮與私人屋苑合作,租出位置擺放物流櫃,為政府增加租金收入。
新民黨社區發展主任孔永業先生指出,現時香港年輕人和長者都經常北上消費,例如北區居民不只「北上買餸」,甚至會「北上買飯盒」,有長者向他分享,他們有乘車優惠,乘車來回連同買飯盒只需20元,總總因素之下令各區人流下降。他建議政府推動無處不旅遊時,應與各區特式結合,而非將同一模式放在全港十八區。
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Worst may be over for HK
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Regina Ip says the economy is bouncing back and Hong Kong has regained leading rankings in many global financial and competitiveness surveys, but the government must pursue technological and political innovation to see the city thrive
In the Year of the Snake, Hong Kong enters a world that is more perilous than ever, with US President Donald Trump threatening tariffs against key trading partners and intensifying technological competition with China. Comments from Chinese officials that there are “no winners” in a trade war drop strong hints that China would not hesitate to retaliate if it is targeted.
Hong Kong is powerless to put brakes on a trade or tech war, but when it comes to troubles roiling the city, the worst might be over.
Top on the list is the controversy over national security. Although Hong Kong is constitutionally required to implement national security legislation, the national security law Beijing enacted for Hong Kong in 2020 sparked a spate of sanctions, travel warnings and a precipitous plunge in Hong Kong’s relationship with the West.
Nearly five years after the enactment of the law, Hong Kong could be close to turning the corner. “National security first” remains the government’s credo, but hints of change could be seen in Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung’s letter to The Wall Street Journal on comments former US vice-president Mike Pence made at a business conference in Hong Kong last month.
After complaining about Pence’s “despicable” attempt at “political manipulation”, Tang concluded by saying, “The above notwithstanding, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government always strengthens ties and exchanges with different countries, including the US.
“Indeed, despite political differences in recent years, Hong Kong and the US continue to enjoy mutually respectful and beneficial business and social ties. Our city will continue to serve as the most effective bridge linking our motherland with the rest of the world for years to come”. This is a significant change in tone portending a more nuanced strategy towards the city’s critics.
On the economic front, Hong Kong is on the mend. The stock market is bouncing back. According to Bonnie Chan Yiting, CEO of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, a pipeline of 100 companies are waiting to be listed. Visitor arrivals are up more than 30 per cent compared to 2023, and various schemes have helped to fill Hong Kong’s talent gap. In addition, Hong Kong has regained leading rankings in many international financial and competitiveness surveys.
The government has invested billions into research and innovation to jump-start its technological development. The high costs and many hurdles are to be expected given the late start. There are three areas the government must prioritise to catch up with global developments.
First, priority must be accorded to the adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in and outside government. As AI applications thrive on open data and algorithms, the government should accelerate the implementation of its open data and cross-boundary data transfer policies agreed with the rest of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, to enable promising sectors such as healthcare and finance to flourish.
Second, to fortify Hong Kong’s position as a global financial centre, Hong Kong must not lose out in financial innovations, especially in digital finance. As the only part of China authorised to trade, invest and manage digital assets, Hong Kong should make full use of its mandate to play a greater role in stimulating the cryptocurrency industry.
One million cryptocurrency tokens are created every week, according to Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. The frenzy around cryptocurrency shows no sign of abating despite its risks. The government needs to push ahead with suitable relaxation of its regulatory regime to protect investors as well as attract more blockchain talent and cryptocurrency start-ups to Hong Kong.
Finally, innovation is not possible without the necessary talent. The government has tried to bring in talent with more diverse skills since the introduction of an accountability system for key government officials in 2002.
Yet despite further development through creating new positions of deputy directors of bureau and political assistants in 2008, the accountability system has failed to live up to expectations.
Part of the problem stems from the concession the government made to the civil service to preserve their grip on power when the accountability system was expanded in 2008. A 2007 consultation paper states squarely that the new deputy directors and political assistants “have no direct line of command vis-a-vis the permanent secretaries”. They were intended to assist bureau directors in the discharge of political duties, seen at that time as comprising mainly lobbying for legislative support, handling the media and attending events on behalf of bureau directors.
Because of this limitation, many deputy directors were unable to pick up more knowledge of government business or exert control over departments. Those who joined without the relevant professional knowledge or background were particularly weak and disadvantaged.
The world is changing so rapidly that more forward-thinking leaders with up-to-date technological know-how, international experience and political skills are necessary to assist the chief executive to implement reform and stay competitive. All governments need reinforcement and, from time to time, a shake-up.
While a sweeping, Trump-style Department of Government Efficiency might be counterproductive, an appropriate dose of creative disruption at this critical time would do the government much good.
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香港發展醫療產業有優勢嗎?(二)/ Does Hong Kong Have Advantages in Developing the Medical Industry? (Part 2)
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我在去年12 月到泰國旅遊, 同行的年輕人在旅遊途中進行了一次體檢。她在Instagram 上看到泰國康民國際醫院(Bumrungrad International Hospital)的資訊,說是設備完善的龍頭醫院,體檢套餐只需約22,300 泰銖(大約5000 港元),相比起香港同類的體檢大約要花費13,000 港元,泰國便宜得多,因此,「旅遊體檢」在泰國相當受歡迎。
泰國康民國際醫院是由我的行會前同僚陳智思先生的家族經營。體檢當天,他安排醫院同事帶我參觀這家佔地70,262 平方米的醫院,分別提供門診、住院治療、專科及手術等不同服務。我留意到,這家醫院的顧客來自世界各地。為了便利來自世界各地的顧客,醫院僱用了超過100 位專職國際語言的翻譯人員,並且與泰國移民局合作,每周都會有官員到醫院為持有醫生醫療證明的病人和家屬辦理簽證延期。膳食方面,醫院提供各種菜式,醫院附近亦有不少清真餐廳供中東顧客選擇。
回說香港,香港因為土地昂貴,難以興建像泰國康民國際醫院那樣的大型醫院。雖然特區政府曾於2009 年預留4 幅土地用於發展私營醫院,但也只有兩幅土地成功建成港怡醫院及香港中文大學醫院。
中文大學醫院行政總裁馮康醫生曾向我表示,他期望該院能夠提供廣大市民可負擔的中價醫療服務,藉以減輕公營醫療體系的負擔。聽起來這是很好的模式,可是新冠疫情對該院構成沉重的財政壓力,3 年來求診人數低迷。在醫療成本高、使用率低的困局下,中文大學醫院至今未能向特區政府償還數十億的貸款,可見要在土地供應不足、營運成本昂貴的香港發展醫療產業,相當困難。
Does Hong Kong Have Advantages in Developing the Medical Industry? (Part 2)
During my trip to Thailand in December last year, one of the young people in my group underwent a medical check-up while traveling. She came across information about Bumrungrad International Hospital on Instagram, describing it as a well-equipped leading hospital where a medical check-up package costs only about 22,300 Thai Baht (approximately 5,000 Hong Kong dollars), which is much cheaper compared to similar check-ups in Hong Kong, which cost around 13,000 Hong Kong dollars. Therefore, "tourist check-ups" are quite popular in Thailand.
Bumrungrad International Hospital in Thailand is operated by the family of my former colleague, Mr. Bernatd Charnwut Chan. On the day of the check-up, he arranged for a hospital staff member to give me a tour of this hospital spanning 70,262 square meters, offering various services such as outpatient care, inpatient treatment, specialties, and surgeries. I noticed that the hospital's clientele comes from all over the world. To facilitate customers from around the globe, the hospital employs over 100 full-time international language translators and collaborates with the Thai Immigration Bureau, with officials visiting the hospital weekly to assist patients and their families holding medical certificates with visa extensions. Regarding meals, the hospital offers a variety of dishes, and there are also many Halal restaurants near the hospital for Middle Eastern customers to choose from.
Speaking of Hong Kong, due to expensive land prices, it is challenging to build large hospitals like Bumrungrad International Hospital in Thailand. Although the SAR government reserved four plots of land in 2009 for the development of private hospitals, only two plots have been successfully developed into Hong Kong Baptist Hospital and the Chinese University Hospital.
Dr. Fung Hong, the CEO of the Chinese University Hospital, once told me that he hopes the hospital can provide affordable mid-priced medical services to the general public to alleviate the burden on the public healthcare system. While this sounds like a good model, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed significant financial pressure on the hospital, with low patient numbers over the past three years. In the face of high medical costs and low utilization rates, the Chinese University Hospital has yet to repay the tens of billions in loans to the SAR government. It is evident that developing the medical industry in Hong Kong, with limited land supply and high operating costs, is quite challenging.
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香港發展醫療產業有優勢嗎?(一)/ Does Hong Kong Have Advantages in Developing the Medical Industry? (Part 1)
文章
香港目前的經濟增長未如理想,政府去年10 月公布,2024 年首三季合計的本地生產總值較2023 年同期僅實質上升2.6%;而近日財政司長則公開表示,財政赤字近1000 億元,有專家指出,若非計入發行了1300 億的債券,財赤其實達2300 億。
經濟學家經常提及推動本港經濟有「三頭馬車」(即出口、消費額、整體投資),雖然香港整體的貨物出口量及整體投資開支都有所增長,但消費額卻持續下跌。要實現收支平衡,特區政府既需採取果斷措施「滅赤」,也要妥善運用現有資源推動經濟發展,刺激消費,特區政府大力推動盛事經濟及爭取中央重新啟動內地居民「一簽多行」,的確令人流有所增長。
1997 年,香港遇上亞洲金融風暴,經濟低迷,特區政府一度考慮推動醫療產業來刺激經濟。2009 年,特區政府更把醫療產業納入「六大優勢產業」,但多年來未見有顯著的實際發展。
理論上,香港是有條件發展醫療產業的。香港中文大學和香港大學的醫學院均於全球醫學領域享有較高名次(排名28 及31);同時擁有不少研發專家和人才;在一些專科領域,香港的診治技術更是世界一流。
2009 年,特區政府預留4 幅分別位於黃竹坑、將軍澳、大埔及大嶼山的土地用於發展私營醫院。其中,位於黃竹坑的港怡醫院及在馬料水的香港中文大學醫院均已落成並投入服務。不過,香港中文大學醫院因營運收益未如理想,已向特區政府申請延遲償還政府貸款。
我的行會同僚陳智思曾向我提及,他的家族在泰國經營的泰國康民醫院(Bumrungrad International Hospital),相當成功,有「泰版養和醫院」之稱。他認為香港缺乏土地及醫護人手,較難像泰國那樣發展醫療產業。至於泰國為何能蓬勃發展醫療產業,讓我們下回分解。
Does Hong Kong Have Advantages in Developing the Medical Industry? (Part 1)
Hong Kong's current economic growth has not been as ideal. The government announced last October that the GDP value for the first three quarters of 2024 had only increased by 2.6% compared to the same period in 2023. Recently, the Financial Secretary publicly stated that the fiscal deficit is close to 100 billion Hong Kong dollars. Experts have pointed out that if the issuance of 130 billion in bonds is not taken into account, the actual deficit would be 230 billion.
Economists often mention the three pillars for driving the local economy, namely exports, consumption, and overall investment. While Hong Kong has seen growth in both total merchandise exports and overall investment spending, consumption has continued to decline. To achieve fiscal balance, the SAR government needs to take decisive measures to address the deficit and effectively utilize existing resources to drive economic development and stimulate consumption. The SAR government is vigorously promoting event-based economics and striving for the re-initiation of the "multiple entry permit" for mainland residents, which has indeed led to an increase in visitor numbers.
In 1997, Hong Kong faced the Asian financial crisis, which led to an economic downturn. The SAR government once considered promoting the medical industry to stimulate the economy. In 2009, the SAR government even included the medical industry in the "six major advantageous industries," but there has been no significant practical development over the years.
In theory, Hong Kong has the conditions to develop the medical industry. The medical schools at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong both enjoy high rankings in the global medical field (28th and 31st, respectively). Hong Kong also has many research and development experts and talents, and in some specialized fields, its diagnostic and treatment techniques are world-class.
In 2009, the SAR government reserved four plots of land in Wong Chuk Hang, Tseung Kwan O, Tai Po, and Lantau Island for the development of private hospitals. Among them, the the Gleneagles Hospital in Wong Chuk Hang and the Chinese University Hospital in Ma Liu Shui have been completed and put into service. However, the Chinese University Hospital has applied to the SAR government for a delay in repaying government loans due to lower-than-expected operational revenue.
My colleague, Bernard Charnwut Chan, once mentioned to me that his family operates the Bumrungrad International Hospital in Thailand, which is quite successful and known as the "Thai version of Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital." He believes that Hong Kong lacks land and healthcare personnel, making it more challenging to develop the medical industry like Thailand. As for why Thailand has been able to thrive in developing the medical industry, let's delve into that next time.
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