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新聞稿，焦點
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新民黨支持特區政府和國家商務部簽署CEPA新協議
新民黨支持特區政府和國家商務部簽署CEPA新協議
日期︰2024 年 10 月 10 日
特區政府昨日（9日）發放重磅消息，特區政府和國家商務部簽署關於修訂《〈內地與香港關於建立更緊密經貿關係的安排〉服務貿易協議》的協議二。新民黨熱烈支持特區政府與國家商務部簽署CEPA新協議，認為協議內容非常豐富，將大力幫助香港服務業走入內地。新民黨非常感謝中央政府答應國家商務部對香港的大力支持，相信香港企業必定會牢牢掌握此機會，向內地進軍，促進陸港兩地互聯互通。
特區政府與國家商務部於2015年在《內地與香港關於建立更緊密經貿關係的安排》框架下簽署《服務貿易協議》，2019年簽訂協議修訂《服務貿易協議》，今次為五年後的再一次修訂，新民黨認為這將進一步推動港企進入內地市場。
新民黨主席暨立法會議員葉劉淑儀女士指出：「今次修訂至少有三大突破，意義具大。一，修訂涵蓋面廣闊、內容豐富，包含專業服務、金融服務、電影、電視等，部分修訂屬業界爭取多時的改變；如金融服務方面，取消香港金融機構向保險公司投資入股，最近一年年末總資產不少於20億美元的要求；專業界別方面，在大部分服務領域取消香港服務提供者須在香港從事實質性經營三年的年期規定。」
她續指，第二個突破是取消電影及電視業方面的限制，允許香港服務提供者於內地銷售港產片，及取消香港人士參與網絡電視劇作主創人員的數量限制，未來將有助香港演員及相關業界在內地發展。
葉劉淑儀女士指出：「第三個突破是新增『港資港法』和『港資港仲裁』，香港企業可在大灣區指定城市，以香港法律執行或調解，可進一步促進互聯互通。」
新民黨相信最新修訂將大大有助香港服務業的未來發展，強化香港作為全球金融、商業及專業服務中心，及促進香港融入國家發展大局。
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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)
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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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泰國旅遊競爭力解碼 / Decoding the Competitiveness of Tourism in Thailand
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前文提到，我於聖誕假期到泰國曼谷度假，發現當地的旅遊業發展蓬勃。報道指，截至2024 年12 月，泰國全年共吸引超過3500 萬人次造訪。我認為泰國之所以能夠成為世界知名的旅遊勝地，以及吸引港人遊客，其中一大主因在於它的人力資源及土地價值遠較香港要低，令其可以較低的消費物價吸引遊客。
首先，泰國的年輕人口比例較高。泰國目前人口約為7000 萬，年齡中位數為39 歲，勞動人口（15 歲至64 歲）佔約68%（約4760 萬人）；反觀香港的人口只有約750 萬，年齡中位數為46歲，勞動人口佔約51%（約383 萬人）。受惠於充足的勞動人口，泰國的人均工資低於香港，優良的性價比令當地服務業發展也相當發達。以港人喜愛的按摩服務為例，旅行期間我光顧一家園林式按摩店，3 人按摩兩個小時只收費1400港元（且毋須打賞），這比香港便宜許多，十分超值。
第二，泰國的土地價值均低於香港，使得整體成本較低。據報道，在清邁購置一片建屋面積約63,000 呎的土地，分成12 戶，每戶土地約4300 呎，一塊土地售價約35 萬港元。相比之下，假設要在香港購置一片同樣面積的土地，價格可能是泰國的數十倍。較低的地價降低了房地產項目的成本，使得新開設的商場可在不急於即時回本的前提下逐步發展。
最後，以人文資源來說，泰國以其開放和包容的社會氛圍，成為全球遊客眼中的獨特魅力之地。例如，同性婚姻的合法化，以及一年一度吸引了3 萬人參加的White Party 都是泰國與眾不同的特色。隨着旅客在疫後的消費模式出現轉變，傳說的消費旅遊已較難吸引新一代旅客。我認為香港不妨仿效泰國，透過舉辦類似的活動，來打造香港的旅遊名片。事實上，香港於2023 年曾舉辦首次在亞洲舉行的同志界國際盛事「同樂運動會」。我認為類似的活動既能彰顯香港包容多元的價值，還有助於擴大香港的旅遊市場，政府應考慮多加舉辦。
Decoding the Competitiveness of Tourism in Thailand
As mentioned earlier, I holidayed in Bangkok, Thailand during the Christmas break and found that the local tourism industry is thriving. Reports indicate that by December 2024, Thailand had attracted over 35 million visitors throughout the year. I believe that one of the main reasons Thailand has become a world-renowned tourist destination and attracts visitors from Hong Kong is due to its lower human resources and land values compared to Hong Kong, which allows it to attract tourists with lower consumption prices.
Firstly, Thailand has a higher proportion of young people. With a current population of around 70 million, Thailand has a median age of 39, and the labor force (aged 15 to 64) accounts for about 68% (approximately 47.6 million people); in contrast, Hong Kong's population is only about 7.5 million, with a median age of 46, and the labor force accounts for about 51% (approximately 3.83 million people). Benefiting from an abundant labor force, Thailand's average wages are lower than Hong Kong's, and the excellent value for money has led to a well-developed local service industry. For example, during my trip, I visited a garden-style massage parlor where a 2-hour massage for three people cost only HK$1,400 (without the need for tips), which is much cheaper than Hong Kong and very cost-effective.
Secondly, land values in Thailand are lower than in Hong Kong, resulting in lower overall costs. According to reports, purchasing a piece of land in Chiang Mai with a building area of about 63,000 square feet, divided into 12 units with each unit having around 4,300 square feet of land, costs approximately HK$350,000 per unit. In comparison, purchasing a piece of land of the same size in Hong Kong could be tens of times more expensive than in Thailand. Lower land prices reduce the costs of real estate projects, allowing newly opened malls to gradually develop without the immediate need to recoup investments.
Lastly, in terms of cultural resources, Thailand's open and inclusive social atmosphere has made it a unique and charming destination in the eyes of global tourists. For example, the legalization of same-sex marriage and the annual White Party, which attracts 30,000 participants, are distinctive features of Thailand. As post-pandemic consumer patterns among travelers shift, the legendary concept of consumption tourism may find it challenging to attract the new generation of travelers. I believe that Hong Kong could follow Thailand's example by organizing similar events to create a tourism hallmark for Hong Kong. In fact, Hong Kong hosted the first-ever Gay Games in Asia in 2023. I think similar events not only showcase Hong Kong's inclusive values but also help expand Hong Kong's tourism market, which the government should consider hosting more of.
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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.
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.
前文提到，我於聖誕假期到泰國曼谷度假，發現當地的旅遊業發展蓬勃。報道指，截至2024 年12 月，泰國全年共吸引超過3500 萬人次造訪。我認為泰國之所以能夠成為世界知名的旅遊勝地，以及吸引港人遊客，其中一大主因在於它的人力資源及土地價值遠較香港要低，令其可以較低的消費物價吸引遊客。
首先，泰國的年輕人口比例較高。泰國目前人口約為7000 萬，年齡中位數為39 歲，勞動人口（15 歲至64 歲）佔約68%（約4760 萬人）；反觀香港的人口只有約750 萬，年齡中位數為46歲，勞動人口佔約51%（約383 萬人）。受惠於充足的勞動人口，泰國的人均工資低於香港，優良的性價比令當地服務業發展也相當發達。以港人喜愛的按摩服務為例，旅行期間我光顧一家園林式按摩店，3 人按摩兩個小時只收費1400港元（且毋須打賞），這比香港便宜許多，十分超值。
第二，泰國的土地價值均低於香港，使得整體成本較低。據報道，在清邁購置一片建屋面積約63,000 呎的土地，分成12 戶，每戶土地約4300 呎，一塊土地售價約35 萬港元。相比之下，假設要在香港購置一片同樣面積的土地，價格可能是泰國的數十倍。較低的地價降低了房地產項目的成本，使得新開設的商場可在不急於即時回本的前提下逐步發展。
最後，以人文資源來說，泰國以其開放和包容的社會氛圍，成為全球遊客眼中的獨特魅力之地。例如，同性婚姻的合法化，以及一年一度吸引了3 萬人參加的White Party 都是泰國與眾不同的特色。隨着旅客在疫後的消費模式出現轉變，傳說的消費旅遊已較難吸引新一代旅客。我認為香港不妨仿效泰國，透過舉辦類似的活動，來打造香港的旅遊名片。事實上，香港於2023 年曾舉辦首次在亞洲舉行的同志界國際盛事「同樂運動會」。我認為類似的活動既能彰顯香港包容多元的價值，還有助於擴大香港的旅遊市場，政府應考慮多加舉辦。
Decoding the Competitiveness of Tourism in Thailand
As mentioned earlier, I holidayed in Bangkok, Thailand during the Christmas break and found that the local tourism industry is thriving. Reports indicate that by December 2024, Thailand had attracted over 35 million visitors throughout the year. I believe that one of the main reasons Thailand has become a world-renowned tourist destination and attracts visitors from Hong Kong is due to its lower human resources and land values compared to Hong Kong, which allows it to attract tourists with lower consumption prices.
Firstly, Thailand has a higher proportion of young people. With a current population of around 70 million, Thailand has a median age of 39, and the labor force (aged 15 to 64) accounts for about 68% (approximately 47.6 million people); in contrast, Hong Kong's population is only about 7.5 million, with a median age of 46, and the labor force accounts for about 51% (approximately 3.83 million people). Benefiting from an abundant labor force, Thailand's average wages are lower than Hong Kong's, and the excellent value for money has led to a well-developed local service industry. For example, during my trip, I visited a garden-style massage parlor where a 2-hour massage for three people cost only HK$1,400 (without the need for tips), which is much cheaper than Hong Kong and very cost-effective.
Secondly, land values in Thailand are lower than in Hong Kong, resulting in lower overall costs. According to reports, purchasing a piece of land in Chiang Mai with a building area of about 63,000 square feet, divided into 12 units with each unit having around 4,300 square feet of land, costs approximately HK$350,000 per unit. In comparison, purchasing a piece of land of the same size in Hong Kong could be tens of times more expensive than in Thailand. Lower land prices reduce the costs of real estate projects, allowing newly opened malls to gradually develop without the immediate need to recoup investments.
Lastly, in terms of cultural resources, Thailand's open and inclusive social atmosphere has made it a unique and charming destination in the eyes of global tourists. For example, the legalization of same-sex marriage and the annual White Party, which attracts 30,000 participants, are distinctive features of Thailand. As post-pandemic consumer patterns among travelers shift, the legendary concept of consumption tourism may find it challenging to attract the new generation of travelers. I believe that Hong Kong could follow Thailand's example by organizing similar events to create a tourism hallmark for Hong Kong. In fact, Hong Kong hosted the first-ever Gay Games in Asia in 2023. I think similar events not only showcase Hong Kong's inclusive values but also help expand Hong Kong's tourism market, which the government should consider hosting more of.