理財新哲學見真章 首要勿再光說不練

<轉載自2018年2月28日 明報 社評>

現屆政府首份財政預算案今天出爐。今年當局錄得破紀錄財政盈餘，預算案能否為市民帶來意外驚喜，將大大影響往後數年各界對政府的觀感，財政司長有責任體察民情，善用公帑改善民生推動社會進步，不應該是守財奴，又或是只看數字的「帳房先生」。現屆政府提倡理財新哲學，矢言積極作為，「應使即使」，今次預算案，將是各界檢視政府能否說到做到的重要成績表。

三個衡量指標 檢視理財表現

今次是陳茂波出任財政司長後第二份預算案。回首去年預算案亮點有限，政府多項措施，諸如派糖300多億元、預留300多億元改善安老服務等，留給市民的印象，恐怕還不如當局又一次嚴重估錯數，估計財政盈餘只得百多億元，僅及實際金額十分之一左右。當然，去年1月陳茂波走馬上任，個多月後旋即發表財政預算，事前預備工夫大多是上手留下，就算預算案內容未孚眾望，也有較多理由開脫，今次預算案是陳茂波一手包辦，加上行政長官林鄭月娥提倡理財新哲學，如果當局還不能趁此機會，切實交出成績，市民實在很難相信未來數年政府有決心有魄力改善民生。

連日政黨和民間團體提出不少意見，有人要求全民派錢，亦有人要求寬減薪俸稅、增加供養父母和子女免稅額、向「N無人士」提供生活津貼等，意見不一而足。政府今年盈餘普遍預料高達1500億元或以上，財政儲備更超過1萬億元，花錢不會有太高難度，然而政府施政應有優次和原則，不可能「有求必應」，檢視政府有否做好公共理財，需要先設定衡量指標。

財政政策目標，離不開推動經濟、投資社會改善民生，以及財富再分配。本港經濟勢頭良好，當局毋須刻意推出財政擴張措施催谷消費，又或進一步調低利得稅等刺激增長。財政預算案應聚焦推動經濟結構轉型，以實際有效措施，促進創新科技發展，協助初創企業應付融資和招攬人才等問題。至於投資社會和「派糖」措施，衡量指標應該是切實為社會帶來進步，以及對有需要人士起到實質紓困作用。

香港人均本地生產總值超過4.3萬美元，可是財富高度集中在小撮人手中，社會困頓者眾，政府民生工作缺失多多，公立醫院病房擠迫情况，竟然倒退到1980代水平。公院病牀使用率，其實是近年才經常成為各界談論的數字。以往公院病牀使用率逼近100％，已被視為爆煲警號，可是今時今日使用率超過110％已成為常態，急症室輪候八九小時儼如家常便飯，能夠將輪候時間縮短一兩個小時，竟已足以成為官員「政績」。

醫療問題是政府理財短視、施政失敗的最具體例子。政府長期忽略改善醫療軟硬件配套，甚至大削資源，近年始亡羊補牢，惟力度又不足夠。前年財政預算案提出動用2000億元，落實9項醫院發展項目，惟有關措施不過是舊酒新瓶，將多個早已公布的項目重新包裝，2000億元亦非一筆過撥款，只是給醫管局設定10年可動用金額。近日政府官員透露會增撥資源，強化醫療系統，能否切中需要，仍需拭目以待。市民期望政府善用公帑盡快落實民生項目，不想空談長遠未來，更不想見到當局繼續弄出一大堆基金，變相將百億元計公帑藏起不用。

措施立竿見影不容易 政府應有中短期目標

本港不少民生問題均非一時三刻能夠解決，無論是興建醫院和安老院舍，還是加強人手培訓，需時起碼年計，即使現在大力投入資源，也很難立竿見影，當局起碼要有中短期目標，說清楚3至5年後情况能有多少改善。政府需要有長遠策略處理醫療安老等問題，也需要投入資源推動短期應對措施。每年財政預算案，政府都許下很多民生撥款承諾，可是市民遲遲未見情况改善，政府是否真的無法提高辦事效率，公眾滿腹狐疑。公屋輪候時間、急症室輪候時間等，是市民判斷政府有否做好民生工作的重要指標，當局除了增加資源投入，更應訂出具體可行的指標，讓市民看到有逐步改善的希望。

當然，施政報告和財政預算案只是施政起點，如果官員怠惰不思進取，就算政府增撥資源，結果也只會糊裏糊塗浪費耗掉。政府要改善民生、利民紓困，不能只靠財爺「開水喉」，還需要政府各部門配合。財政司長是特區政府第三把交椅人物，若不好好與特首配合，敦促各部門「應使即使」，市民又怎可能對政府改善施政有信心？世上有不少類型的財政司長或部長，有些是典型守財奴，有些懶於作為只懂派錢，亦有人僅視自己為「帳房先生」，只管處理收支帳目，其餘事不關己。凡此種種，皆非財政掌管者應有的作為。為官避事平生恥，財政司長應積極協助推動施政，多思考如何用錢推動社會進步，令民生切實得到改善。究竟陳茂波想當什麼樣的司長？市民將會根據今天的預算案下判斷。

The thrust of the new fiscal philosophy

THE FIRST BUDGET under the incumbent government will be delivered today. As this year has seen a record-breaking budget surplus, whether the budget has any pleasant surprise for the public will affect how various sectors feel towards the government over the next few years. The Financial Secretary should gauge public sentiments and put public funds into good use to improve people's livelihood and foster social progress. Advocating a new fiscal philosophy, the incumbent government has pledged to adopt a proactive approach and "spend where necessary". Different sectors in society will use the upcoming budget to assess whether the government can keep its word.

This year it is generally anticipated that there will be a surplus of $150 billion or more, and the fiscal reserves will exceed $1 trillion. It will not be too difficult to make any expenditures. However, the government should get its priorities right and adhere to its principles. There should be a set of yardsticks by which to assess whether the government has done a good job of managing public finances.

No financial policies should depart from the objective of promoting economic development, social investment to improve people's livelihood and the redistribution of wealth. Hong Kong's economy is gathering momentum. There is no need for the government to boost consumption by adopting any fiscal expansionary policy on purpose. Neither is there any need to introduce more profit tax cuts to stimulate growth. The budget should focus on promoting economic restructuring by adopting practical and effective measures to foster innovative technological development and to help startup enterprises to deal with issues such as financing and recruiting talent. Whether the government should invest in society and dish out sweeteners should be determined by whether such measures will bring about real progress for society and real relief for those in need.

The per capita GDP of Hong Kong is over US$43,000, but the wealth is highly concentrated in the hands of a few. There are a large number of people living in poverty, but the work of the government in improving people's livelihood suffers from many shortcomings. The healthcare issue is the most concrete example of the government's shortsightedness in fiscal management and its policy failures. The government has, for a long time, neglected the need to improve the hardware and software for ancillary facilities in healthcare. Resources for healthcare services have even suffered massive cuts. It is only in recent years that the government has begun to take remedial measures but the effort is far from sufficient.

The many livelihood issues in Hong Kong cannot be resolved overnight. Even if the government commits massive resources to these issues now, it is difficult to see results immediately. The government should at least have medium-term and short-term goals and state clearly how much can be achieved in 3 to 5 years. Apart from allocating more resources to these issues, the government should also set specific and achievable targets so that the public may see hope of gradual improvement.

Of course, the policy address and the budget plan are only a starting point in terms of governance. To improve people's livelihood and to alleviate the hardships facing those in need, it is not enough just for the Financial Secretary to splash out. All government departments should act in concert with the Financial Secretary. As the third highest government official in the special administrative region, the Financial Secretary must also be able to act in concert with the Chief Executive in urging all government departments to "spend where necessary". If he fails to do so, how can the public believe that the government will improve its governance? The Financial Secretary should assume a proactive role in supporting the Chief Executive in implementing government policies. He should also reflect more on how to use public funds to bring about social progress as well as tangible improvement to the livelihood of Hong Kong people.

理財新哲學見真章 首要勿再光說不練

現屆政府首份財政預算案今天出爐。今年當局錄得破紀錄財政盈餘，預算案能否為市民帶來意外驚喜，將大大影響往後數年各界對政府的觀感，財政司長有責任體察民情，善用公帑改善民生推動社會進步。現屆政府提倡理財新哲學，矢言積極作為，「應使即使」，今次預算案，將是各界檢視政府能否說到做到的重要成績表。

政府今年盈餘普遍預料高達1500億元或以上，財政儲備更超過1萬億元，花錢不會有太高難度，然而政府施政應有優次和原則，檢視政府有否做好公共理財，需要先設定衡量指標。

財政政策目標，離不開推動經濟、投資社會改善民生，以及財富再分配。本港經濟勢頭良好，當局毋須刻意推出財政擴張措施催谷消費，又或進一步調低利得稅等刺激增長。財政預算案應聚焦推動經濟結構轉型，以實際有效措施，促進創新科技發展，協助初創企業應付融資和招攬人才等問題。至於投資社會和「派糖」措施，衡量指標應該是切實為社會帶來進步，以及對有需要人士起到實質紓困作用。

香港人均本地生產總值超過4.3萬美元，可是財富高度集中在小撮人手中，社會困頓者眾，政府民生工作缺失多多。醫療問題是政府理財短視、施政失敗的最具體例子。政府長期忽略改善醫療軟硬件配套，甚至大削資源，近年始亡羊補牢，惟力度又不足夠。

本港不少民生問題均非一時三刻能夠解決，即使現在大力投入資源，也很難立竿見影，當局起碼要有中短期目標，說清楚3至5年後情况能有多少改善。當局除了增加資源投入，更應訂出具體可行的指標，讓市民看到有逐步改善的希望。

當然，施政報告和財政預算案只是施政起點。政府要改善民生、利民紓困，不能只靠財爺「開水喉」，還需要政府各部門配合。財政司長是特區政府第三把交椅人物，若不好好與特首配合，敦促各部門「應使即使」，市民又怎可能對政府改善施政有信心？財政司長應積極協助推動施政，多思考如何用錢推動社會進步，令民生切實得到改善。