混亂的美國大選 / The Chaotic U.S. Election 　   文章 　   2024 年 10 月 31 日 執筆時距離11月5日舉行的美國總統大選只剩下一周時間。今次大選極具戲劇性，先有拜登因電視辯論失利而退選，賀錦麗臨危受命，後有特朗普兩度遇刺；加上目前國際形勢嚴峻，世界各國都對選舉結果翹首以盼。不過，美國的選舉制度相當複雜，有機會常令大選結果遲遲無法出爐。 美國設有聯邦選舉委員會（Federal Election Commission），但並不負責舉行或管理選舉，只負責監管競選資金的使用，舉行選舉的權力則授予各州政府。因此，每個州份的選舉及投票方式都不一樣。比方說，美國允許選民透過郵寄選票來投票，而各州郵寄投票的截郵時間各有不同，加上有部分郵寄選票會遲到，導致點票所需的時間大增。 除此以外，美國大選所採用的選舉人團制度（Electoral College）亦令選舉結果的出爐時間大幅延後。選舉之後，各州政府會根據普選結果任命選舉人（Elector）代表該州人民投票選出總統及副總統，並將選舉結果確認證書（Certificates of Vote）送至國會點算。以今年大選為例，當11月5日的普選結果出爐後，州政府最遲會到12月11日才正式任命選舉人，各州選舉人於12月17日才投票，當選者在1月20日宣誓就職，整個大選流程將長達兩個月。 美國社會近年非常撕裂，選舉期太長有機會為選舉結果帶來變數。特朗普目前官非纏身，急需總統的刑事豁免權，據悉其競選團隊已準備好在敗選州份發起訴訟，挑戰選舉結果；亦有意見指出，特朗普的選民基礎以激進的極右勢力為主，加上美國的政治暴力事件有上升趨勢，擔心特朗普敗選可能會引出另一次的「國會山莊騷亂」。除此以外，亦有不少民主黨支持者對賀錦麗目前的選情感到憂慮，若賀錦麗敗選，民主黨內部勢掀另一波信心危機。 混亂的美國大選(撰文：葉劉淑儀，原文刊於《明報》) The Chaotic U.S. Election With only a week remaining until the U.S. presidential election on November 5th, this election cycle is proving to be incredibly dramatic. It began with Biden dropping out due to a poor performance in a televised debate, and Harris stepping in to take his place. Trump has also been targeted for assassination twice. Coupled with the current international tensions, countries around the world are eagerly awaiting the election results. However, the U.S. election system is quite complex, often leading to delays in finalizing the election outcome. The United States has the Federal Election Commission, which is responsible for overseeing the use of campaign funds but not for conducting or managing elections. The power to hold elections is delegated to the state governments. As a result, each state has different election and voting procedures. For example, the U.S. allows voters to cast their ballots by mail, with different states having varying deadlines for receiving mail-in votes. Some mail-in ballots may arrive late, significantly extending the time needed for counting. Furthermore, the Electoral College system used in U.S. elections also contributes to the delayed announcement of election results. After the election, state governments appoint electors based on the popular vote results to represent the people of the state in casting votes for the President and Vice President. The election results certificates are then sent to Congress for counting. In this year's election, for instance, after the popular vote results on November 5th, state governments will appoint electors no later than December 11th, with electors casting their votes on December 17th. The winner will be inaugurated on January 20th, making the entire election process last for two months. In recent years, American society has been deeply divided, and the lengthy election period could introduce uncertainties into the election outcome. Trump is currently facing legal challenges and is in urgent need of presidential pardons. Reports indicate that his campaign team is prepared to launch lawsuits in states where he loses, challenging the election results. Some also suggest that Trump's voter base consists mainly of radical right-wing forces, combined with the rising trend of political violence in the U.S., raising concerns that a Trump defeat could lead to another "Capitol Hill riot." Additionally, many Democratic supporters are anxious about Harris's current electoral prospects, fearing that a Harris defeat could trigger a confidence crisis within the Democratic Party.

發展旅遊需全盤策略 / Developing Tourism Requires a Comprehensive Strategy 　   文章 　   2024 年 10 月 28 日 行政長官李家超在10月16日宣讀的新一份《施政報告》中，第六章（促進文化體育旅遊融合發展，推動多元經濟）當中有整整三大段詳述如何（增強文化自信，打造香港旅遊新面貌），提及生態旅遊、盛事旅遊、熊貓旅遊、賽馬旅遊、郵輪旅遊，以至智慧旅遊，又要推廣沙頭角文化生態旅遊路線、加快建設南大嶼生態康樂走廊和發展前南丫石礦場等等；此外又要鞏固傳統旅遊吸引力，制訂十八區美食指南，舉辦美食盛事；以做到「香港無處不旅遊」。 《施政報告》提出的旅遊項目繁多，稱得上目不暇給，反映行政長官李家超非常願意聆聽，廣納社會各界包括立法會議員、區議員和不同組織的建議；例如發展前南丫石礦場便是我和新民黨一直推動的項目。不過，要成功落實上述各個項目，有效振興旅遊業，帶動經濟效益，並非把各項建議「數白欖式」收納在《香港旅遊業發展藍圖2.0》便可，文化及體育旅遊局任重道遠，看來還有大量工作要做。 盤點旅遊資源 我認為發展旅遊需要全盤策略，一環扣一環。首先是要盤點香港有甚麼旅遊資源，包括傳統的景點、歷史名勝、主題公園、博物館、海島、生態勝地，到近期大熱的熊貓、剛出土的恐龍化石等，以至《施政報告》未有提及的紅色旅遊景點，也需羅列。 為旅遊資源下定義 第二步是要為旅遊資源下定義，界定哪些旅遊資源能吸引哪些遊客。舉例說，我認為熊貓對東南亞或海外旅客吸引力較大，但是熊貓對內地旅客而言並不罕見，他們未必熱衷為熊貓來港，反而港人特別是小朋友會對一對在香港出生的熊貓有共生情懷。 內地旅客期望來香港體驗內地沒有的東西，他們喜歡迪士尼樂園，認為「港迪」貼近美國迪士尼的風味。小紅書上常常有「港迪」帖子，「港迪」能逆市加價，成人票價近千元，可見其受歡迎程度。 此外，西九文化區香港故宮文化博物館和M+博物館各類藝術文化、古物展覽會比較吸引中產和高端旅客；相對地，分散各區的網紅打卡點則較吸引喜歡四處遊走的年輕人。 針對性優化配置 明確了不同旅遊資源的屬性後，第三步便要針對性地優化配置，開拓市場；特別是要認清，若低端市場難以和內地比拼，我們便要鞏固高端市場，提供優質服務和消費體驗，提升競爭力。《施政報告》提到要「開拓中東和東盟旅客客源」，那麼便需要增加高端清真食肆以及禮拜設施，我認為方向正確。 近期全城熱切期待啟德體育園開幕和COLDPLAY演唱會帶來的盛事效應，又有點憂慮屆時能否順利疏導五萬人潮，及早部署及演練交通安排便成關鍵。我一直推動在港舉辦「一帶一路運動會」，若能成事，務必有不同國家的運動員、團隊及旅客來港，做好啟德體育園的配套便是為體育旅遊做好準備。 策略性宣傳營銷 第四步也是關鍵一步，有別於千篇一律的廣泛營銷，特區政府需要基於以上三步曲的分析，思考如何策略性地宣傳營銷，準確地把香港不同切面的旅遊特性，針對性地推廣予特定旅客群，開拓市場。當然也要根據不同目標旅客群的特性喜好而採取不同的宣傳方式，傳統廣告抑或社交平台、明星代言抑或素人帖文，各有功能，要運用得宜才能發揮神效。 分層出擊提升旅遊競爭力 的而且確，香港正經歷通縮期。很多食肆不惜推出「傷本」優惠，酒店自助餐大擘價，不乏「買一送一」、「買二送四」，最近更有粥店推出「十蚊任食放題」，大家都忙於自救，反映特區政府有必要加快步伐，提振經濟。 最後，我認為特區政府必須認清，香港旅遊業復甦緩慢的一大原因在於消費物價高昂，與臨近地區相比缺乏競爭力。物價高低主要取決於商品的國際價格，而國際價格又等於本地價格乘聯繫匯率；若聯繫匯率不變，本地價格一定要變，出現通縮便無可避免。理論上，若價格下跌，旅遊會復甦；特別是美國減息，港元轉弱；若迎來真正的減息周期，港元會稍為逆轉，國際旅遊會慢慢恢復。 此時此刻，特區政府必須好好把握自己的優勢，規劃全盤策略，分層出擊，提升旅遊競爭力。若只是將坊間意見照單全收，《香港旅遊業發展藍圖2.0》將事倍功半。 Developing Tourism Requires a Comprehensive Strategy In the new "Policy Address" announced by Chief Executive Li Ka-chiu on October 16th, Chapter Six (Promoting the Integrated Development of Cultural, Sports, and Tourism to Drive Diverse Economy) includes three detailed sections on how to enhance cultural confidence and create a new face for tourism in Hong Kong. The report mentions ecotourism, major events tourism, panda tourism, horse racing tourism, cruise tourism, and smart tourism. It also emphasizes the promotion of cultural and ecological tourism routes in Sha Tau Kok, accelerating the construction of the Southern Lantau Ecological Leisure Corridor, and developing the former South Lamma Quarry, among others. Additionally, it aims to strengthen traditional tourism attractions by creating an 18-district gourmet guide, hosting food festivals, and ensuring that "there is no place in Hong Kong without tourism." "The Policy Address" proposes a multitude of tourism projects, which can be described as overwhelming. This reflects Chief Executive Li Ka-chao's willingness to listen attentively and widely solicit suggestions from various sectors of society, including Legislative Council members, district councilors, and various organizations. For example, the development of the former South Lamma Quarry is a project that I and the New Democratic Party have been advocating for. However, successfully implementing these various projects to effectively revitalize the tourism industry, drive economic benefits, is not simply a matter of incorporating all suggestions in the "Hong Kong Tourism Development Blueprint 2.0" in a perfunctory manner. The road ahead for the Cultural and Sports Tourism Bureau is long and arduous, indicating that there is still a significant amount of work to be done. Inventory of Tourism Resources I believe that developing tourism requires a comprehensive strategy, with each aspect interconnected. The first step is to take stock of what tourism resources Hong Kong has, including traditional attractions, historical landmarks, theme parks, museums, islands, ecological sites, as well as recently popular attractions like pandas, newly discovered dinosaur fossils, and even red tourism sites not mentioned in "The Policy Address." Defining Tourism Resources The second step is to define tourism resources, determining which resources can attract which types of tourists. For example, I believe that pandas have a greater appeal to tourists from Southeast Asia or overseas, but they are not as rare for mainland Chinese tourists, who may not be as enthusiastic about coming to Hong Kong specifically for pandas. On the other hand, Hong Kong residents, especially children, may have a special affinity for pandas born in Hong Kong. Mainland Chinese tourists expect to experience things in Hong Kong that they cannot find on the mainland. They enjoy Disneyland, considering "Hong Kong Disneyland" to be reminiscent of the American Disney flavor. Posts about "Hong Kong Disneyland" are frequently seen on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), and "Hong Kong Disneyland" can command higher prices against the market trend, with adult ticket prices close to a thousand Hong Kong dollars, indicating its popularity. Furthermore, cultural attractions like the Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+ Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District appeal more to middle-class and high-end tourists. Conversely, Instagrammable spots scattered throughout various districts are more appealing to young people who enjoy exploring different areas. Targeted Optimization and Allocation Once the attributes of different tourism resources are clearly defined, the third step is to optimize and allocate resources accordingly to expand the market. It is crucial to recognize that if it is challenging to compete with the mainland in the low-end market, we should consolidate the high-end market by providing high-quality services and consumer experiences to enhance competitiveness. The Policy Address mentions the need to "develop tourist sources from the Middle East and ASEAN," which requires an increase in high-end halal restaurants and prayer facilities. I believe this direction is correct. The highly anticipated opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park and the event impact brought by the COLDPLAY concert have generated citywide excitement. However, there are concerns about whether we can efficiently manage the anticipated fifty thousand attendees and the importance of early deployment and rehearsal of traffic arrangements is crucial. I have been advocating for hosting the "Belt and Road Games" in Hong Kong. If successful, athletes, teams, and tourists from different countries will surely come to Hong Kong. Proper preparation at the Kai Tak Sports Park will be essential for sports tourism. Strategic Promotion and Marketing The fourth step is also a critical one. In contrast to generic widespread marketing, the SAR government needs to think strategically about how to promote and market based on the analysis of the previous three steps. It is essential to accurately promote the diverse tourism characteristics of Hong Kong to specific target groups and expand the market strategically. Additionally, different promotional methods should be employed based on the preferences of the target tourist groups. Traditional advertising, social media platforms, celebrity endorsements, or user-generated content all have their unique functions, and utilizing them appropriately can yield significant results. Hierarchical Approach to Enhancing Tourism Competitiveness It is evident that Hong Kong is currently experiencing a period of deflation. Many eateries are offering loss-making promotions, hotels are slashing buffet prices, with deals like "buy one get one free" or "buy two get four free." Recently, a congee shop even introduced a "all-you-can-eat for $10" promotion. Everyone is busy trying to save themselves, reflecting the urgent need for the SAR government to accelerate its pace and boost the economy. Finally, I believe the SAR government must recognize that one major reason for the slow recovery of the Hong Kong tourism industry is the high cost of living, which lacks competitiveness compared to neighboring regions. The price level primarily depends on the international prices of goods, which in turn equals the local price multiplied by the linked exchange rate. If the linked exchange rate remains unchanged, local prices must adjust, leading to deflation. In theory, if prices fall, tourism will recover, especially if the US cuts interest rates and the Hong Kong dollar weakens. If a genuine interest rate cut cycle arrives, the Hong Kong dollar will slightly reverse, and international tourism will gradually recover. At this moment, the SAR government must leverage its advantages, plan a comprehensive strategy, adopt a hierarchical approach, and enhance tourism competitiveness. Simply accepting all opinions without a structured plan will result in only half-hearted efforts in the "Development Blueprint for Hong Kong's Tourism Industry 2.0"

特區政府進一步解決房屋問題 / Special Administrative Region Government Takes Further Steps to Address Housing Issues 　   文章 　   2024 年 10 月 22 日 香港一直是全球居住成本最高的城市之一，據顧問機構Demographia 最新發表的「國際住房負擔能力」報告顯示，香港已連續14 年蟬聯負擔能力最差的市場。解決房屋供應短缺、住屋開支高企及居住環境惡劣等一系列問題，一直是特區政府的重點施政項目，當中又以困擾社會多年的「劏房」問題和公屋綜合輪候時間為重中之重。 由於公屋輪候時間過長，臨時住所需求上升，劏房市場應運而生。《2021 年人口普查》結果顯示，香港目前有至少21.4 萬人居住在劏房。劏房人均居住面積小，衛生環境惡劣，部分單位甚至沒有獨立煮食空間，只能在馬桶旁邊煮食。此外，不少劏房有漏水、牆壁破裂等安全隱患。早前佐敦華豐大廈三級火警便涉及逾百劏房，造成多人死傷。由於劏房多集中於舊樓或「三無」大廈，消防設施欠奉，消防設備狀况差劣，嚴重威脅居民的居住安全和健康。 為解決劏房問題，上屆政府通過了《2021 年業主與租客（綜合）（修訂）條例草案》，限制劏房租金的加幅；本屆政府亦於去年宣布成立「解決劏房問題」工作組，並在今年《施政報告》宣布會以立法方式制定住宅樓宇分間單位的出租制度，符合標準的單位名為「簡樸房」，並訂明最低標準。此外，特區政府鼓勵發展商參與收購舊樓重建，以提供更多選擇給劏房居民。 至於公屋輪候時間過長的問題，本屆政府於2022 年訂下將6 年公屋輪候時間「封頂」的目標。鑑於公屋落成量目前仍要「追落後」，特區政府需要更多時間兌現承諾。值得慶幸的是，房屋局數據顯示，截至2024 年6 月底，一般公屋申請者由「入表」起計的平均輪候時間已由2022 年約6.1 年降至目前的5.5年。 我認為本屆政府在處理房屋問題一事上，展示出相當魄力。希望特區政府能繼續推出更多措施，多管齊下解決房屋問題，讓香港真正告別「劏房」。 Special Administrative Region Government Takes Further Steps to Address Housing Issues Hong Kong has long been one of the most expensive cities to live in globally. According to the latest "International Housing Affordability" report published by the consulting firm Demographia, Hong Kong has consecutively held the title of the least affordable market for 14 years. Addressing a series of issues such as housing supply shortages, high housing expenses, and poor living conditions has always been a key policy focus of the SAR government, with particular emphasis on the long-standing issues of "subdivided units" and the comprehensive waiting time for public housing. Due to the excessively long waiting time for public housing, the demand for temporary accommodations has increased, leading to the emergence of subdivided unit markets. The results of the 2021 Population Census show that there are currently at least 214,000 people living in subdivided units in Hong Kong. Residents of these units have limited living space, poor sanitation conditions, with some units lacking independent cooking spaces, forcing residents to cook next to toilets. Furthermore, many subdivided units have safety hazards such as leaks and cracked walls. A recent three-alarm fire at the Fa Yuen Street building in Jordan involved over a hundred subdivided units, resulting in multiple casualties. As subdivided units are often concentrated in old buildings or "three-nil" structures with inadequate fire facilities and poor fire equipment conditions, they pose a serious threat to residents' safety and health. To address the issue of subdivided units, the previous government passed the "2021 Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) (Amendment) Bill," which limits rent increases for subdivided units. This current government also announced the establishment of a "Subdivided Unit Task Force" last year and declared in this year's Policy Address that it will legislate a rental system for sub-divided units in a residential building, with compliant units named "basic housing units" and specified minimum standards. Additionally, the SAR government encourages developers to participate in the acquisition and redevelopment of old buildings to provide more options for subdivided unit residents. As for the issue of excessively long waiting times for public housing, this government has set a goal to cap the waiting time for public housing at 6 years by 2022. Considering that public housing completion rates still need to "catch up," the SAR government requires more time to fulfill its promises. Fortunately, according to Housing Department data, as of the end of June 2024, the average waiting time for general public housing applicants has decreased from around 6.1 years in 2022 to the current 5.5 years since the "application submission." I believe that this government has shown significant determination in addressing housing issues. I hope that the SAR government will continue to introduce more measures and take a multi-pronged approach to solve housing problems, allowing Hong Kong to truly bid farewell to subdivided units.

How John Lee’s policy address sets Hong Kong up for success / 李家超的施政報告 如何為香港開拓成功之路 　   文章 　   2024 年 10 月 20 日 Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivered his third policy address on October 16. As expected, he opened with an iteration of Beijing’s expectations of Hong Kong and the city’s institutional strengths under “one country, two systems”, plus the completion of its constitutional duty to enact national security legislation. Though economic competitiveness was not billed as the chief selling point, there was a noticeable shifting of gears to double down on the economy. The growth-enhancing measures announced are timely and necessary. Hong Kong’s economy faces stiff competition from nearby cities in mainland China. The downturn in the property sector has sharply cut government revenue and greatly dimmed the outlook for the construction, engineering and related professional sectors. When unveiling his economic programme, Lee introduced measures to strengthen Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre. Finance, shipping and trade have become priorities for the city in China’s national five-year plans. In Lee’s address, he touted other measures to enhance Hong Kong’s strengths in a multitude of areas, from developing a “headquarters economy” to consolidating the city’s edge in international aviation, liquor trading, legal services, intellectual property rights, medical innovation and postsecondary education. Hong Kong is a leading service provider and robust international demand for its services is fundamental to the city’s economic well-being. A number of bright spots stand out in the panoply of demand-enhancement measures. New initiatives to build Hong Kong into an international gold storage, trading and settlement centre, as well as a venue for metals and minerals trading, call for special attention, but they should not come as a surprise. In hindsight, the importance of trading in gold to Hong Kong should have been a focus much earlier. Hong Kong has long been one of the world’s foremost gold trading centres. The Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange, founded in 1910, has a wealth of experience in trading physical gold and silver. The spotlight on metals and minerals trading should not come as a complete novelty, either. When Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing bought the London Metal Exchange (LME) in 2012, it was anticipated that one of Asia’s most vibrant stock exchanges and London’s leading trader in non-ferrous metals would complement each other. A green light for the extension of LME’s global warehousing network to Hong Kong is expected to be given by the end of this year. The extension would not only boost physical storage of industrial metals, which mainland China is a leading consumer of, but also strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a shipping centre and open up new opportunities for derivatives trading. As Lee pointed out in his policy address, the current complexity in geopolitics opens a window for Hong Kong to expand its capacity for storage and build a new supply chain. Ahead of the address, market expectations were high that the government would roll out measures to buoy the property market, as the mainland Chinese authorities had done in September. The city’s home prices peaked in August 2021, according to the Hong Kong housing index. Since then, housing prices have plunged more than 15 per cent. Substantial new grade A office completions in Central have placed considerable downward pressure on office rents in Hong Kong’s prime business district. The decline in rents has enabled the entry of newcomers who require extensive floor space, and Hong Kong’s lively art scene has pulled in world-famous auctioneers and galleries. Amid the knock-on effect of the property decline on a range of related sectors, the government has implemented support measures. The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme was relaxed with effect from October 16 to allow entrants to invest up to HK$10 million (US$1.2 million) in a residential property valued at no less than HK$50 million. Moreover, the Monetary Authority announced a slew of measures to help homebuyers, such as raising the maximum loan-to-value ratio for all residential properties to 70 per cent. The ratio for mortgage loans based on the net worth of the mortgage applicant will be adjusted to the same level, covering residential and non-residential properties. Reactions from developers have been mixed. Vendors of smaller residential units found some relief, but easing borrowing conditions should definitely benefit homebuyers and signals the government’s readiness to help. The policy address was full of measures to speed up Hong Kong’s metamorphosis into an innovation hub. The government will push ahead with the development of the much-touted Northern Metropolis, while the chief executive is personally taking charge of the development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop. Some accustomed to profiting from Hong Kong’s traditional strengths in services might remain sceptical of the city’s chances of successfully becoming a tech hub. Given Hong Kong’s late start in investing in technology and innovation, the construction of mega tech parks meant to drive the city’s hi-tech development seems no more than a pipe dream. Yet the government’s determination and strong backing from Beijing must not be underestimated. Playing catch-up in the technology sector takes time. Changing the convictions and culture of traditional businesspeople may be even harder. But we must not forget that Hong Kong was once a manufacturing miracle. China has a track record of achieving the impossible. The government and the small – but focused – tech community are fired up and ready to go. In the meantime, reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as a hub economy and providing a lifeline to the property sector are essential. 中譯本：李家超的施政報告 如何為香港開拓成功之路 行政長官李家超於10月16日發布了他任內第三份施政報告。一如預期，他首先闡述了北京對香港的期望以及香港在“一國兩制”下的制度優勢，還強調香港完成立法國家安全法的憲制職責。雖然經濟競爭力並非主要賣點，但明顯有加大經濟力度的趨勢。 他宣布的促進增長措施及時而必要。香港的經濟面臨來自中國內地附近城市的激烈競爭。房地產行業的低迷大幅削減了政府收入，並嚴重影響了建築、工程及相關專業領域的前景。 宣布經濟計劃的同時，他亦公布加強香港作為國際金融、航運和貿易中心地位的措施，這三項已成為中國國家五年計劃中香港的重點領域。 施政報告中提及的措施，包括增強香港在多個領域的優勢，從發展“總部經濟”到鞏在國際航空、酒類交易、法律服務、知識產權、醫療創新和高等教育方面的優勢。 香港是領先的服務供應商，其服務的強勁國際需求對經濟福祉至關重要。在需求增強措施的眾多方案中，有一些突出的亮點。新的倡議旨在將香港建設成為國際黃金存儲、交易和結算中心，以及金屬和礦物交易場所，雖然相關些措施驚喜不大，但都值得特別關注。 回顧來看，對香港黃金交易的重要性早就應該更早關注。香港長期以來一直是世界上最重要的黃金交易中心之一。成立於1910年的中國金銀交易所在金銀實物交易方面擁有豐富的經驗。對金屬和礦物交易的關注也不應完全是新鮮事。 2012年，香港交易及結算所收購倫敦金屬交易所時，人們預計亞洲最活躍的股票交易所之一和倫敦領先的有色金屬交易商將互補發展。 預計倫敦金屬交易所全球倉儲網絡將擴展至香港的許可，將在年底前獲得。這一擴展不僅將促進工業金屬的實物存儲（中國內地是主要消費國之一），還將鞏固香港作為航運中心的地位，並為衍生品交易開辟新機會。 正如李在他的施政報告中所指出的，當前地緣政治的復雜性為香港擴大存儲能力和構建新供應鏈打開了一扇窗口。 施政報告公布前，市場普遍預期政府將推出措施來支撐房地產市場，就像內地當局在九月份所做的措施。 根據香港房屋指數，其房價在2021年8月達到了高峰。自當時起至今房價已經下跌超過15%。中環大量新建的甲級寫字樓竣工，給香港主要商業區的寫字樓租金帶來了相當大的下調壓力。 租金下降使需要大面積空間的新租客者進入市場，香港活躍的藝術界吸引了世界著名的拍賣師和畫廊。在房地產下滑對一系列相關行業的連鎖影響中，政府已經實施了支持措施。 新的資本投資入境計劃從10月16日起放寬，允許入境者在價值不低於5000萬港幣的住宅物業上投資高達1000萬港幣（120萬美元）。 此外，香港金融管理局宣布了一系列措施來幫助購房者，例如將所有住宅物業的最高貸款價值比率提高到70%。基於抵押申請人淨值的抵押貸款比率將調整到相同水平，涵蓋住宅和非住宅物業。 但開發商的反應褒貶不一，較小住宅單元的賣方壓力得以舒緩，但放寬借款條件肯定會使購房者受益，並表明政府願意提供幫助。 施政報告中內容亦充滿了加快香港轉變為創新中心的措施。政府將推動備受矚目的北部都市的發展，同時行政長官也親自負責發展位於落馬洲的香港-深圳創新科技園。 一些習慣於從香港傳統服務業優勢中獲利的人，可能對香港成功成為科技中心的機會持懷疑態度。考慮到香港在科技和創新投資方面起步較遲，旨在推動城市高科技發展的大型科技園區的建設，似乎不過是一紙空文。 科技領域趕超需要時間，但政府的決心和來自北京的堅強支持不容小覷。改變傳統商人的信念和文化可能更加困難。但我們不應忘記，香港曾經是一個制造業奇跡，中國在實現不可能的目標方面，亦有著良好的記錄。 政府和小而專注的科技社區都充滿熱情並已准備就緒。與此同時，加強香港作為樞紐經濟的地位並為房地產部門提供生機，是至關重要。

駐外經貿辦應何人當首長？/ Who should be the head of the Economic and Trade Office abroad? 　   文章 　   2024 年 10 月 19 日 1960 年代，香港製造業迅速崛起，大量紡織品、玩具、電子產品、鞋履等商品生產及出口至世界各地，遂引致入口國紛紛實施入口管制。以製衣業為例，在1950年至1970 年間，香港製衣廠的數目以平均年增率24.9% 的速度由41 間增加至3491 間，大量商品出口徵收關稅等一系列貿易及保護措施以遏制自由貿易。當時駐外經貿辦尚未成立，港英政府會委派官員前往駐歐美的領事館出任商務參贊（Counsellor Commercial）等職位，專責代表香港和貿易伙伴談判。這些官員掛職在英國領事館，享有外交特權和豁免。 過往，香港的駐外經貿主管大多由專業的貿易官員擔任，而非像現時般由政務官出任。比方說，駐華盛頓前商務參贊，來自當年工貿署貿易職系的盧鎰輝（Peter Lo），他被派駐華盛頓超過10年，擁有豐富的談判經驗。在他任內，駐華盛頓辦事處一直就各項直接關乎香港經濟及貿易利益的事宜，與美國國會及有關的聯邦部門保持密切聯絡。盧鎰輝在華盛頓沉浸多年，於當地擁有廣泛人脈，他善於交際又熟悉美國政治情况，懂得如何與美國人打交道，因此當年他甚得工商司的信任，在華盛頓的工作也十分吃得開。得益於此，他後來被調任到布魯塞爾，負責與歐盟談判。 回歸後，隨着政府架構及部門功能的轉變，大部分貿易官員都調任到政務職系。而優秀的政務官則被調配到工貿署負責貿易談判，逐漸接管駐外經貿辦的工作。 雖然駐外經貿辦的工作較少為市民所知，但在維持香港的國際影響力較為重要，以駐華盛頓辦事處為例。由於美國聯邦政府、國會、智庫、公司說客及國家報章均將基地設於華盛頓，一旦在華盛頓出現任何誤會，都可能會損害香港的整體貿易利益。因此，一名成功的駐外經貿辦代表，不僅要熟悉政府事務，獲得政府信任，還需具備成熟的個性、交際能力和能與不同國籍、種族、文化背景的人士打交道。 Who should be the head of the Economic and Trade Office abroad? In the 1960s, Hong Kong's manufacturing industry rapidly rose, producing and exporting a large number of textiles, toys, electronic products, footwear, and other goods worldwide, leading to importing countries implementing import controls. Taking the garment industry as an example, from 1950 to 1970, the number of garment factories in Hong Kong increased from 41 to 3491 at an average annual growth rate of 24.9%, with a series of trade and protection measures such as imposing tariffs on exported goods to curb free trade. At that time, the Economic and Trade Office abroad had not yet been established. The Hong Kong British government would appoint officials to serve as Commercial Counsellors at diplomatic missions in Europe and the United States, representing Hong Kong and negotiating with trade partners. These officials were attached to British diplomatic missions, enjoying diplomatic privileges and immunities. In the past, most of Hong Kong's heads of Economic and Trade Offices abroad were professional trade officers, rather than administrative officers as is the case now. For example, the former Commercial Counsellor in Washington, Peter Lo, from the trade series of the former Trade and Industry Department, was stationed in Washington for over 10 years and had extensive negotiation experience. During his tenure, the Washington office dealt closely with matters directly related to Hong Kong's economic and trade interests, maintaining close contact with the U.S. Congress and relevant federal departments. Peter Lo immersed himself in Washington for many years, had a wide network of contacts, was good at socializing, familiar with U.S. political situations, knew how to deal with Americans, and therefore gained the trust of the Commerce and Industry Bureau, making his work in Washington very influential. As a result, he was later reassigned to Brussels to negotiate with the European Union. After the handover, with the transformation of government structure and department functions, most trade officers were transferred to civil service positions. Excellent administrative officers were then reassigned to the Trade and Industry Department to handle trade negotiations, gradually taking over the work of the Economic and Trade Offices abroad. Although the work of the Economic and Trade Offices abroad is less known to the public, it is crucial for maintaining Hong Kong's international influence, as seen in the example of the Washington office. Given that the U.S. federal government, Congress, think tanks, lobbyists, and national newspapers are all based in Washington, any misunderstandings there could potentially harm Hong Kong's overall trade interests. Therefore, a successful representative of an Economic and Trade Office abroad not only needs to be familiar with government affairs and gain government trust but also needs to possess a mature personality, interpersonal skills, and the ability to interact with people of different nationalities, races, and cultural backgrounds.

CEPA修訂協議為香港服業務開啟廣闊內地市場 　   文章 　   2024 年 10 月 18 日 香港特別行政區立法會議員、行政會議召集人 10月9日香港股市大升，勢如過山車，金融市場頓時掀起一場狂熱。當日，同樣令人矚目的是，特區政府帶來重大利好消息，在行政長官李家超和中央官員的見證下，香港與內地簽訂《〈內地與香港關於建立更緊密經貿關系的安排〉(CEPA) 服務貿易協議》的第二份修訂協議。 眾所周知，服務業是香港經濟的龍頭，商務部首肯修訂香港與內地的服務貿易協議，確保內地多個重要服務行業進一步對港開放，惠利香港實體經濟，必然帶來更多實實在在的收益。 早在2003年6月，為了提振SARS重創後的香港經濟，作為CEPA協議一部分，國家允許18個服務行業率先對港開放，此舉隨即成為搞活本港經濟的重要環節。 2015年11月，在CEPA的框架下，兩地又簽署了一份獨立的有關服務貿易的子協議，並於2016年6月實施，內地對香港的開放幅度隨之進一步擴大。 近年來，香港業界對深化開放內地市場的呼聲與日俱增，終於在 2019年6月，雙方就新增開放措施簽署了第一份修訂協議。及至2023年6月CEPA協議簽訂20周年之際，在內地160個服務行業中，已有96%（即153個行業）已經全面或局部對香港開放。 雖然內地開放市場進展良好，但是港商仍舊感到“大門開小門不開”，許多行業仍然存在準入限制，例如，建築和相關工程等行業明確規定港商必須具備三年營運經驗才能在內地提供服務。 電影、電視行業亦然。以往，香港在這兩個領域曾處於領先地位，並獲得相當的國際認可，但業界進入內地市場時卻受到投資額的限制，即便項目獲準港人參與制作，香港演員和創作團隊的人數也有嚴格的限制。 最新簽署的修訂則對這類具備優勢的產業進入內地市場取消了限制，並於2025 年 3 月 1 日生效，屆時，對於建造業及相關工程服務、影視業、旅遊業、金融服務業和電訊服務，內地都將取消行之已久的三年本地營運要求。 屆時，香港電影業將獲準可向國內電影制作企業投資，合資格的電影公司可在內地發行進口買斷的港產片。電視方面，對於時下非常流行、發展迅猛的網絡電視劇，港人參與主要制作的人數限制也會不覆存在。 另外,旅遊業和金融業的市場準入情況也將顯著改善。為推廣粵港澳大灣區“一程多站”旅遊，當局將推出措施，方便外國旅行團經由香港進入廣東全省；參加國際郵輪旅行的內地旅客亦可在香港免簽過境。此舉可讓更多內地郵輪公司在國際航線中加入香港作為中途停靠站。 香港的金融業一直積極爭取政策打入內地市場。一直以來，香港金融機構入股內地保險公司時，投資額須不少於20億美元。新安排取消了這一規定。而且，在香港經營的外資銀行還獲準在內地經營銀行卡業務。此外，內地與香港資本市場的互聯互通機制也在不斷擴大，新增了房地產投資信托基金等新產品，由此，香港國際金融中心和離岸人民幣業務中心的地位必將進一步得以鞏固、加強。 在新安排下，香港的電訊服務供貨商也能在內地市場分一杯羹，電訊公司可以在內地分銷全球通電話卡（只要該不在內地啟動）。 除了擴大市場準入外，新修訂還帶來了制度上的創新和突破，允許在內地的港資企業沿用香港法律，並在必要時選擇以香港或澳門作為仲裁地。這些措施前所未見，它鼓勵內地商界在商業領域采用普通法，從而提升香港作為區域仲裁中心的地位。 商界對這些措施聞風而動、舉手歡迎。許多外國商會立即采取行動，將詳細信息上載到其官網上。 2022年，香港與內地的服務貿易達3062 億港元（394.1億美元），占香港服務貿易的28%。是次修訂不僅惠利兩地企業，也是內地服務業汲取香港經驗、邁向現代化的又一次提升。 為了提振香港疲弱經濟，許多人提議優先落實一些能夠實時見效的方案，例如增加內地旅客可在港購買的免稅商品的金額，或允許透過“資本投資者入境計劃”來港的人士購置物業等。 此前，這類立竿見影的方案也曾實施過。最成功的先例莫過於擴大自由行計劃，為香港招徠大量內地旅客，助力香港經濟快速轉型。不過，國內遊客湧入香港也令本地市場失衡，讓服務業失去動力求新求變，甚至無心發展多元化。如今，商界已幡然醒悟，若非奮力向前，必然不進則退。 本次的新修訂提供了新框架，讓香港服務業更容易打入內地。然而，成功非必然，港人必須努力不懈、不甘落後、不斷創新，才能在內地龐大的服務業市場中積極進取、乘勢而上。

CEPA's further liberalizations open doors for HK 　   文章 　   2024 年 10 月 15 日 Regina Ip says residents must work hard and innovate to tap into mainland's vast services market On Oct 9, when a financial frenzy gripped Hong Kong's roller-coaster stock market, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government brought happy tidings of long-lasting impact to the real economy. The good news was that the Ministry of Commerce had agreed to make further amendments to Hong Kong's trade-in-services agreement with the Chinese mainland. The amendments would bring real benefits to Hong Kong's service industries through further opening-up of a number of important mainland service sectors to Hong Kong. The Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) Agreement on Trade in Services, as it is formally called, was signed on Oct 9, witnessed by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and senior central government officials. The CEPA is a free trade agreement concluded between the mainland and Hong Kong in June 2003, as part of the mainland's effort to boost the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's then-sagging, post-epidemic economy. Under this agreement, access to 18 service sectors on the mainland was liberalized. As Hong Kong is a predominantly service-oriented economy, greater benefits would accrue from opening up more mainland service sectors. The HKSAR sought a trade-in-services arrangement with the mainland, which was signed in November 2015, and implemented in June 2016. In response to continued requests from Hong Kong for more liberalization, agreement was reached in 2019 to amend the trade-in-services agreement and add new liberalization measures. On the 20th anniversary of the signing of the CEPA in June 2023, the mainland had fully or partially opened up 153, or 96 percent, of its 160 service sectors to Hong Kong. In spite of such progress, Hong Kong's service providers have complained that "the big door has opened; but small doors haven't". By that, they mean restrictions continued to apply in many sectors, such as construction and related-engineering services, which require service providers to have acquired three years of operating experience before they could commence service provision. Another example is the film and TV industries, where Hong Kong has an early lead and considerable international recognition. Entry into the mainland's market was hampered by restrictions on investment and the number of Hong Kong-origin actors or creative personnel allowed to take part in the production. The latest set of amendments removed restrictions in a number of service sectors where Hong Kong has a competitive edge — namely, construction and related engineering services, film services, television services, tourism services, financial services, and telecommunication services. The three-year local operating requirement for construction and related engineering services will be removed when the amendments enter into force on March 1, 2025. Hong Kong's film industry will be able to invest in enterprises engaged in film production on the mainland; and qualified film service providers will be able to distribute imported buyout Hong Kong movies on the mainland. As for the television industry, the quantitative restriction on Hong Kong residents participating as principal creative personnel in online television dramas, a fast-growing industry on the mainland, will be removed. The market access improvements in the tourism and financial services sectors are significant. To promote multidestination tourism in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, measures will be introduced to facilitate the entry of foreign group tours to the whole of Guangdong province through more control points in Hong Kong. Mainland visitors participating in international cruise itineraries will be able to make permit-free transit in Hong Kong. This will enable more cruise ships operating from mainland ports-of-call to call at Hong Kong. The measures facilitating the entry of Hong Kong's financial services into the mainland market have been long sought after. The $2 billion requirement for Hong Kong financial institutions investing in shares of insurance companies will be removed. Foreign bank branches established in Hong Kong will be able to conduct bank card services on the mainland. Consideration will be given to extending the scope of eligible products under the "mutual market access" program by including new products such as real estate investment trusts. Continuous improvements will be made to various mainland-Hong Kong "Connect" schemes to enhance connectivity of the capital markets of the mainland and Hong Kong, and to reinforce Hong Kong's status as a global financial center and offshore renminbi business center. Hong Kong's telecommunication service providers will also get a slice of the mainland market. They will be allowed to distribute in the mainland telephone service cards that can be used globally but cannot be activated on the mainland. In addition to expanding market access, the amendments bring an innovative breakthrough in allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises on the mainland to adopt Hong Kong law and to choose Hong Kong or Macao as the seat of arbitration should such need arise. Such unprecedented measures will promote the adoption of the common law in commercial areas on the mainland, and enhance Hong Kong's importance as a regional arbitration center. The business community warmly welcomed these improvement measures. Immediate action was taken by many foreign chambers of commerce to include details in their websites or newsletters. In 2022, trade in services between the mainland and Hong Kong amounted to HK$306.2 billion ($39.41 billion), accounting for 28 percent of Hong Kong's trade-in-services trade. The amendments will not only be beneficial to both mainland companies and Hong Kong enterprises, but also represent another step up in the modernization of mainland China's service industries, drawing on Hong Kong's experience. To bolster Hong Kong's sluggish economy, many in Hong Kong have pressed for quick fixes like increasing the amount of duty-free goods that mainland visitors can bring home, or allowing those entering under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme to spend more on property. Quick fixes have been implemented before, the most prominent being the rapid expansion of the Individual Visit Scheme, which opened the floodgates for mass tourism from mainland China. Such programs did help Hong Kong achieve a fast turnaround, but they skewed the local market, and took away Hong Kong service providers' incentives to innovate and diversify. Now, many Hong Kong service providers face a rude awakening that they are being left behind. The amendments provide a framework for Hong Kong service providers to achieve greater access to the mainland's market. But nothing is a given. Hong Kong people must work hard and innovate to ride the next wave of ascendance of the Chinese mainland's vast services market. Or they will be left behind. The market access improvements in the tourism and financial services sectors are significant. To promote multidestination tourism in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, measures will be introduced to facilitate the entry of foreign group tours to the whole of Guangdong province through more control points in Hong Kong.

香港應爭取舉辦「一帶一路」運動會 　   文章 　   2024 年 10 月 15 日 7月17日，新民黨會見行政長官李家超，遞交《施政報告》建議書，我特別向行政長官提議，特區政府應向中央政府爭取，讓香港聯同其他粵港澳大灣區城市，在大灣區舉辦「一帶一路」運動會。我認為這建議對國家、對大灣區，以至對香港，都有多方面好處，非常值得特區政府推進。 「一帶一路」倡議是中國提出的，2013年9月和10月，國家主席習近平先後在哈薩克及印尼宣布推動「絲綢之路經濟帶」及「二十一世紀海上絲綢之路」。推進發展11年，除了興建基建、發展產業、提振經濟、鞏固法律等方面，開拓體育發展亦是必要的。 國家在2019年發布的《體育強國建設綱要》中已強調，要「構建體育對外交往新格局，共建『一帶一路』體育發展行動計劃」；今年7月，「三中全會」《中共中央關於進一步全面深化改革 推進中國式現代化的決定》更提出要「完善推進高質量共建『一帶一路』機制」、「完善陸海天網一體化布局，構建『一帶一路』立體互聯互通網絡。」我認為舉辦「一帶一路」運動會能加強「一帶一路」列國之間的交流，促進世界大同，是對上述戰略目標的有效實踐。 香港一直推動體育「五化」，包括普及化、精英化、盛事化、專業化和產業化，「一帶一路」運動會當然是體壇盛事，並且能為體育產業化作出巨大貢獻。須知道體育競技不單止有運動員，還有專項教練、體能教練、心理輔導、體育醫療、器材及用品、服裝品牌，以至法律與訟裁等等，舉辦大型運動會能壯大運動產業的發展，讓年輕人看到更多出路，經濟效益也會隨之而至。 提到經濟效益，相信沒有人會漠視體育經濟的創收。美國NBA在2022/23年賽季的贊助收入高達16.6億美元歷史新高。在內地，國家隊多位金牌運動員在巴黎奧運後推出的廣告代言和雜誌封面多不勝數。孫穎莎代言的品牌護膚品在開售十分鐘便突破千萬人民幣銷售額，勝過內娛頂流。即使不是簽約代言，與他們有關的周邊商品也會賣個盆滿缽滿，淘寶在8月份發布了《2024巴黎奧運同款帶貨力榜》，全紅嬋、鄭欽文及孫穎莎便分列「運動員帶貨力」的頭3位。 香港過去舉辦的體壇盛事也帶來門票、廣告，以至旅遊、餐飲、酒吧等周邊豐厚的經濟效益。例如每年的香港國際七人欖球賽便吸引數以萬計的海外球迷來港，平均每年帶來約4億元收入。今年3月在香港舉辦的LIV Golf職業巡迴賽的總賽事獎金2500萬美元（約1.95億港元），為特區政府帶來3000萬元稅收。巴奧期間有不少熱門賽事在黃金時間舉行，香港的酒吧生意增加約兩成。 可以預料，若香港舉辦「一帶一路」運動會，會吸引大量相關人員及遊客來港，屆時特區政府可推出一系列運動旅遊路線、餐飲及周邊產品，大力推動體育旅遊，擴闊經濟收益。這也是國家在2017年推出的《「一帶一路」體育旅遊發展行動方案》所強調「外引內聯」、「盤活體育資源」的實踐目標。 當然，要舉辦規模這麼大的綜合型運動會，籌備必然經年，不會一蹴而就。目前看來，2025年有全運會、2026年有亞運會，未必是理想年份；2027年或者是適合的契機。再者，若短期內未能舉辦整全的「一帶一路」運動會，也可以在香港舉辦個別運動項目的「一帶一路」聯賽，例如劍擊、馬術等，來個先行先試。 總結而言，在大灣區舉辦「一帶一路」運動會，能提升「一帶一路」的形象，提高大灣區的國際知名度，開拓香港體育旅遊經濟新格局，一舉多得，特區政府應盡快主動向中央政府爭取，以得先機。 Hong Kong should strive to host the "Belt and Road" Games On July 17, the New People's Party met with the Chief Executive, John Lee, and submitted a proposal in the "Policy Address" recommendation. I specifically suggested to the Chief Executive that the SAR government should strive with the central government to have Hong Kong, along with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, host the "Belt and Road" Games. I believe that this proposal would bring various benefits to the country, the Greater Bay Area, and Hong Kong, making it very worthwhile for the SAR government to promote this initiative. The "Belt and Road" initiative was proposed by China. In September and October 2013, President Xi Jinping announced the promotion of the "Silk Road Economic Belt" and the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road" in Kazakhstan and Indonesia respectively. After 11 years of development, apart from infrastructure construction, industrial development, economic stimulation, and legal consolidation, promoting sports development is also necessary. In the "Outline of Building a Sports Power" issued by the country in 2019, it was emphasized that there should be a "new pattern of sports exchanges with foreign countries and joint construction of the 'Belt and Road' sports development action plan." In July this year, the "Third Plenary Session" of the Communist Party of China put forward in the "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensive Deepening Reform and Advancing Modernization in the Chinese Style" that it should "improve the mechanism for promoting high-quality joint construction of the 'Belt and Road'," and "improve the land-sea-air integrated layout, and build a three-dimensional interconnected network of the 'Belt and Road'." I believe that hosting the "Belt and Road" Games can strengthen communication among the countries along the Belt and Road, promote a harmonious world, and effectively implement the above strategic goals. Elevating the National Sporting Influence Sports represent a crucial area for China to showcase its soft power. The national teams have been excelling at the Olympics with each passing edition. Teams like diving, table tennis, and swimming have achieved globally leading results at the Paris Olympics. Athletes like Quan Hongchan, Sun Yingsha, Wang Chuqin, Pan Zhanle, Zheng Qinwen, and Sheng Lihao have become globally renowned sports stars. Hosting the "Belt and Road" Games could further elevate their status. Moreover, just as host countries of the Olympics tend to add events that favor them, hosting the "Belt and Road" Games could include events such as fencing, martial arts, dragon boat racing, and equestrian sports, thereby strengthening the country's influence in the international sports arena through the establishment of standards and regulations. I suggest that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area be chosen as the host region. Organizing such a large-scale multi-sport event requires abundant venues and rich experience. In terms of venues, the Kai Tak Sports Park and the West Kowloon SPORTS PARK significantly enhance Hong Kong's capacity to host sporting events. The former has a main stadium that can accommodate 50,000 people, while the latter has facilities suitable for emerging sports like Pickleball. When Hangzhou hosted the Asian Games, they constructed and renovated over fifty venues. Similarly, cities in the Greater Bay Area have venues suitable for various sporting events. In other words, hosting the "Belt and Road" Games does not necessitate cities to invest heavily in new venues; existing facilities can be utilized sustainably. In terms of experience, since each city has organized large sporting events before, they have accumulated relevant talent and expertise. Let's not forget that Hong Kong hosted the East Asian Games as early as 2009 and has continually hosted major events like marathons and the Rugby Sevens. In the upcoming 15th National Games next year, Hong Kong will host events like fencing, showcasing its capability and experience in hosting the "Belt and Road" Games. As for financial costs, I believe there is no need to worry. Major sporting events around the world are typically supported by numerous commercial sponsors, and the "Belt and Road" Games should be no exception. Promoting the Industrialization of Sports in Hong Kong Hong Kong has been promoting the "Five Transformations" of sports, including popularization, elitism, eventization, specialization, and industrialization. The "Belt and Road" Games, of course, are a major sporting event and can make a significant contribution to the industrialization of sports. It is essential to recognize that sports competition involves not only athletes but also specialized coaches, fitness trainers, psychological counselors, sports medicine professionals, equipment and supplies, clothing brands, as well as legal matters and arbitration, among others. Hosting large-scale sporting events can boost the development of the sports industry, showing young people more career opportunities, and economic benefits will follow. Speaking of economic benefits, no one can overlook the revenue generated by the sports economy. The NBA in the United States reached a historic high sponsorship revenue of $1.66 billion in the 2022/23 season. In mainland China, numerous national team gold medalists released advertisements and graced magazine covers after the Paris Olympics. Skincare products endorsed by Sun Yingsha achieved over 10 million RMB in sales within the first ten minutes of release, surpassing top entertainment figures. Even without official endorsements, peripheral products related to them sell exceptionally well; in August, Taobao released the "2024 Paris Olympics Same Style Influencer Sales Ranking," with Quan Hongchan, Zheng Qinwen, and Sun Yingsha ranking in the top 3 for "athlete influencer sales power." Past major sporting events hosted in Hong Kong have brought substantial economic benefits through ticket sales, advertisements, as well as surrounding industries like tourism, dining, and bars. For example, the annual Hong Kong Sevens Rugby tournament attracts tens of thousands of overseas fans to the city, generating approximately HK$400 million in revenue each year. In March this year, the LIV Golf Professional Tour held in Hong Kong offered a total prize money of $25 million USD (around HK$195 million), resulting in HK$30 million in tax revenue for the SAR government. During the Olympics, many popular events are held during prime time, leading to a roughly 20% increase in business for bars in Hong Kong. It is foreseeable that if Hong Kong were to host the "Belt and Road" Games, it would attract a large number of relevant personnel and visitors to the city. At that time, the SAR government could introduce a series of sports tourism routes, dining options, and related products, vigorously promoting sports tourism to expand economic benefits. This aligns with the goals of the "Belt and Road" Sports Tourism Development Action Plan launched by the country in 2017, emphasizing the practical goals of "attracting external resources and connecting internally" and "activating sports resources." Certainly, organizing a comprehensive sporting event of such magnitude would require years of preparation and cannot be rushed. Currently, with the National Games in 2025 and the Asian Games in 2026, these may not be ideal years; thus, 2027 could be a suitable opportunity. Furthermore, if a full-fledged "Belt and Road" Games cannot be organized in the short term, hosting individual sports events like "Belt and Road" leagues in Hong Kong for sports such as fencing, equestrian, etc., could serve as a preliminary step. In conclusion, hosting the "Belt and Road" Games in the Greater Bay Area can enhance the image of the Belt and Road Initiative, increase the international visibility of the Greater Bay Area, and pioneer a new era in the sports tourism economy in Hong Kong. This would be a multi-faceted benefit, and the SAR government should actively seek opportunities from the central government to move forward promptly.

駐美經貿辦各有不同功能 / The economic and trade offices in the U.S. have different functions 　   文章 　   2024 年 10 月 14 日 香港特區政府在美國設有3 個經濟貿易辦事處，分別位於華盛頓、紐約和三藩市。據知，除駐華盛頓經貿辦外，其他駐美經貿辦均設有招商引才專組或投資推廣組。投資推廣組成立多年，而招商引才專組是本屆特區政府根據「搶人才」、「搶企業」的方針設立的。那麼，為何華盛頓經貿辦沒有設立這些小組？ 華盛頓是美國首都，美國聯邦政府、美國國會、最高法院、聯儲局，以及大使館、律師行和說客公司（lobbyists）等都在華盛頓運作，招商引才專組難以有效發揮作用。其次，華盛頓辦事處主要與政府打交道，即所謂的「G2G」，而非企業間的聯絡「B2B」，這也是其與貿發局辦事處的主要區別。貿發局的辦事處主要與企業打交道屬「B2B」，不享有政府辦事處的特權與豁免。 選擇設立經貿辦的地點需要考慮幾個因素，例如考慮該地區的功能及有沒有大量港人聚集等。紐約辦事處不僅負責紐約事務，還要兼顧美國東岸除華盛頓以外的工作，例如需加強與美國主流傳媒及商界溝通。美國東岸各校林立，如波士頓和費城便吸引大批香港學生求學。此外，紐約擁有豐富的文化設施，如博物館和表演中心等，同時也是國際傳媒中心，例如《紐約時報》的總部便是設在紐約。三藩市則是重要的財經中心、金融中心，靠近科技重鎮矽谷，也是許多港人的聚集地，對促進香港與加州及華盛頓州的政府科創企業及大學交流可以發揮作用。 香港的政務官職系與一個國家的外交部性質不同，政務官沒有義務到外地工作，因此不少政務官因家庭理由或對涉外工作缺乏興趣，而對調派外地，特別是遙遠的北美洲卻步。試想一屆任期通常3 年，調往外地可能影響配偶工作及子女的教育安排。因此，不少政務官都不熱中調派外地工作。 The economic and trade offices in the U.S. have different functions The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has established 3 economic and trade offices in the United States, located in Washington, New York, and San Francisco. It is known that apart from the economic and trade office in Washington, the other economic and trade offices in the U.S. have dedicated teams for investment promotion or talent attraction. The investment promotion teams have been established for many years, while the talent attraction teams were set up by the current SAR government based on the policy of "attracting talent" and "attracting enterprises." So why hasn't the economic and trade office in Washington set up these teams? Washington is the capital of the United States, where the federal government, the U.S. Congress, the Supreme Court, the Federal Reserve, embassies, law firms, and lobbyists all operate. It is difficult for the talent attraction team to be effectively utilized in Washington. Additionally, the Washington office primarily deals with government-to-government (G2G) interactions, rather than business-to-business (B2B) interactions, which is the main distinction between it and the Trade Development Council office. The Trade Development Council's offices mainly engage with businesses in a B2B capacity and do not enjoy the privileges and exemptions of government offices. Several factors need to be considered when choosing the location for setting up economic and trade offices, such as the functions of the region and whether there is a large concentration of Hong Kong people. The New York office is responsible not only for affairs in New York but also for work on the East Coast of the United States outside of Washington, such as strengthening communication with mainstream U.S. media and the business community. The East Coast of the United States boasts numerous prestigious schools, attracting many Hong Kong students for education, such as in Boston and Philadelphia. Moreover, New York has rich cultural facilities like museums and performance centers and is an international media hub, with the headquarters of The New York Times located there. San Francisco is a significant financial and economic center, close to the tech hub of Silicon Valley, and a gathering place for many Hong Kong people. It can play a role in promoting exchanges between Hong Kong and government, tech startups, and universities in California and Washington state. The nature of the civil service officer system in Hong Kong differs from that of a country's foreign affairs ministry. Civil service officers are not obligated to work overseas, so many officers are hesitant to be posted abroad, especially to a distant place like North America, due to family reasons or lack of interest in foreign-related work. Considering a typical term of 3 years, being posted abroad may impact a spouse's job and children's education arrangements. Therefore, many civil service officers are not enthusiastic about being posted overseas.

「駐美總經貿專員」懸空3年 / "Resident Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs in the U.S." Vacant for 3 Years 　   文章 　   2024 年 10 月 13 日 9 月11 日，美國眾議院以壓倒性票數通過《香港經濟貿易辦事處認證法案》（Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act），要求檢視香港駐華盛頓、紐約和三藩市3個經貿辦應否繼續享有特權與豁免，這條法例或會導致這3 個重點經貿辦關閉。 回顧歷史，經貿辦對香港開拓海外經貿關係十分重要。1950 年代起，歐美各國為保護國內紡織及成衣業，紛紛制定貿易保護措施。到1990 年代初，《關稅及貿易總協定》（The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, GATT）成員國討論貿易自由化，其後「烏拉圭回合」（Uruguay Round）通過成立世界貿易組織（World Trade Organization, WTO）。世貿於1995 年正式成立，香港是創始成員，鞏固了單獨關稅區的地位。 當時港英政府在華盛頓、日內瓦、布魯塞爾及倫敦等重要據點設立經貿辦。在全盛時期，香港有大量紡織品、成衣產品進口美國市場，因此須經常就紡織品貿易雙邊協議談判，及處理一些「反傾銷」或侵犯知識產權的指控，華盛頓經貿辦聘用多家律師行及游說顧問（lobbyists），為香港提供意見。 基於這個歷史，《基本法》第156條列明「香港特別行政區可根據需要在外國設立官方或半官方的經濟和貿易機構，報中央人民政府備案」，奠定香港在回歸後的外經貿發展方向。至今，香港在海外設有14 個經貿辦，分佈於亞太區、歐洲、中東和北美等地，且政府宣布計劃在馬來西亞和中東設立新經貿辦。 如此重要的經貿辦，理應覓良才帶領，可是「駐美總經貿專員」（首任專員達D8 級，其後為D6 級）一職卻已懸空3 年。為何遲遲未有填補？下回分解。 "Resident Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs in the U.S." Vacant for 3 Years / 「駐美總經貿專員」懸空3年 On September 11, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the "Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act," which calls for a review of whether the Hong Kong economic and trade offices in Washington, New York, and San Francisco should continue to enjoy privileges and exemptions. This legislation may lead to the closure of these three key economic and trade offices. Looking back at history, the economic and trade offices have been crucial in expanding Hong Kong's overseas economic and trade relationships. Starting from the 1950s, various European and American countries enacted trade protection measures to safeguard their domestic textile and garment industries. By the early 1990s, member countries of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) discussed trade liberalization, leading to the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) through the Uruguay Round. The WTO was formally established in 1995, with Hong Kong as a founding member, solidifying its status as a separate customs territory. During that time, the Hong Kong colonial government established economic and trade offices in important locations such as Washington, Geneva, Brussels, and London. During its peak, Hong Kong imported a large quantity of textiles and garments into the U.S. market, necessitating frequent negotiations on bilateral textile trade agreements and handling accusations of "dumping" or intellectual property infringement. The Washington economic and trade office hired multiple law firms and lobbyists to provide advice for Hong Kong. Based on this history, Article 156 of the Basic Law stipulates that "the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may, as necessary, set up official or semi-official economic and trade organizations in foreign countries, for the record of the Central People's Government," laying the foundation for Hong Kong's external economic and trade development post-handover. Currently, Hong Kong has 14 economic and trade offices overseas, located in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and the government has announced plans to establish new economic and trade offices in Malaysia and the Middle East. Given the importance of these economic and trade offices, it is essential to find capable leaders to guide them. However, the position of "Resident Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs in the U.S." (initially at D8 level, later at D6 level) has remained vacant for 3 years. Why has it not been filled yet? Stay tuned for further analysis.