<轉載自2018年8月17日 明報 社評>
粵港澳大灣區規劃綱要公布在即，國務院推出內地居住證制度，為合資格港澳台人士提供內地居住證明，可以在多方面享有與內地居民相同待遇。新措施不僅便利常住內地的數十萬名港人，亦有助未來大灣區融合。目前港人在內地生活面對諸多不便，部分源於不必要的條條框框行政束縛，部分則牽涉「兩制」根本分際，前者需要拆牆鬆綁，後者需要小心處理。兩地融合是雙向進程，各有所得各有付出，分寸拿揑必須合度。港人在內地需要的是方便而不是特權，強求特權優惠，最終付出可能比所得更多。
居住證減條條框框 兩制分際仍須保持
中共十九大提出港澳融入國家發展大局，推動大灣區建設。今年初總理李克強透露，港澳居民在內地住房、教育、交通等多方面，將逐步享有與內地居民同等待遇，方便港人在內地發展。今次內地居住證制度出台，正是落實有關計劃的重要一步。居主證與回鄉證存在根本分別，後者只是一種旅行證件，方便港澳居民出入內地，相比之下，居住證是為合資格港澳台人士在內地居住提供身分證明，讓他們在內地享有多項權利、公共服務和便利。
港人在內地生活工作，無論是銀行開戶、移動支付、網上購票、就業就學、旅館住宿，以至享用金融服務等方面，都面對諸多不便。以就業為例，現時港人在內地工作超過3個月，僱主要為他們辦理「就業證」，手續繁複費時失事。有港商則抱怨，辦理內地營業執照甚為麻煩，部分港商甚至要借用內地僱員身分證作為登記文件。近年廣東省和深圳市政府均有意減少這些繁文縟節，深圳前海更率先取消港人「就業證」要求，然而始終只屬個別地區試辦試行，跟中央今次大刀闊斧措施，實有天壤之別。
居住證制度正式實施後，類似的條條框框行政束縛，有望顯著減少。港人只要在內地居住半年以上，有穩定就業和住所，就可申請居住證。只要一證在手，港人便毋須再申請「就業證」，也可參加社保和提存住房公積金，與內地居民一樣，可以享用多項公共服務、入住過去只接待內地人的旅館、參加職業資格考試，以及辦理銀行保險等金融服務。
廣東省常住港人超過50萬，在內地各城市讀書的港人學生估計亦有1.5萬人，居住證制度大大方便他們日常生活，還可以為有意到內地工作、讀書及退休的港人提供誘因。中央希望粵港澳大灣區未來可以跟其他世界級灣區並列。論潛力，粵港澳大灣區的確無可限量，惟「一國兩制三個關稅區」，卻是其他大灣區沒有的限制，如何「堅守一國之本，善用兩制之利」，推進大灣區建設，絕非易事，第一步當然是要設法打通人流物流資金流。設立內地居住證制度，是相對較簡單的做法，為大灣區融合逐步拆牆鬆綁。中央和特區政府下一步可探討簡化港人在內地銀行開戶手續、大幅減低粵港澳通訊漫遊費用，乃至將長者醫療券適用範圍擴展至大灣區其他醫院診所等。
近年，本港不少意見認為，港人在內地應享有「國民待遇」，除了在醫療、社保、置業等各方面與內地人看齊，還可以參軍和投考公務員等。嚴格來說，居住證制度只是方便港人在內地生活，並不完全等同「國民待遇」。根據內地法例，出於國家安全和社會利益考慮，外國人不能在內地軍事、外交、公安和機要部門服務，也不能出任律師等。雖然港人不是外國人，惟境外人士身分，意味港人亦面對類似限制。這些限制當然會妨礙兩地融合，然而從另一角度看，部分限制措施的存在，其實正正體現了「兩制」分際。
追求國民待遇須合度 討盡好處日後須償還
權利與義務是一枚硬幣的兩面，要跟內地人享有一樣的權利，意味亦要負上一樣的義務，強求看齊有可能影響「兩制」分際。目前本港社會似乎有一種聲音，認為許以港人「國民待遇」，就是內地單方面向港人「讓利」，香港毋須付出。有人希望內地可以撤去港人在一二線城市買樓的限制，有人則認為，港人在內地居住超過半年即須繳納內地稅項，會影響港人在內地工作從商意欲，主張「港人港稅」。這些主張對港人當然有好處，然而看在內地人眼裏無疑是搞「特權」，輕則惹來怨言，重則加深兩地矛盾。大灣區融合涉及11個城市，家家有求在所難免，最重要是合理合度。世上沒有免費午餐，大灣區融合是雙向的，港人不可能只有得着沒有付出，眼前好處討得太盡，日後要還的可能更多。
Mainland residence permit scheme
THE State Council has introduced a mainland residence permit scheme,
providing eligible people in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan with evidence of
living on the mainland and enabling them to enjoy the same treatment in various
areas as that of mainland residents. The new measure will not only provide
convenience for hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong people who travel to the
mainland frequently, but also facilitate the integration of the Greater Bay
Area. Currently Hong Kong people living on the mainland endure all kinds of
inconvenience in their daily lives, some of which originate from unnecessary
administrative red tape, which calls for relaxation, while others have to do
with the fundamental differences between the "two systems", which
have to be handled carefully. The integration between the two regions is a
two-way process, and it involves give-and-take on both sides. These issues have
to be handled in an appropriate and measured manner. What Hong Kong people need
on the mainland is convenience rather than privileges. If they demand
privileges and favours, the loss could outweigh the gain in the end.
More than 500,000 Hong Kong people live in Guangdong Province, while
Hong Kong students studying in different mainland cities are estimated to
number 15,000. The residence permit scheme will bring tremendous convenience to
their daily lives and provide incentives for Hong Kong people to work, study or
retire on the mainland. In recent years, many Hong Kong people have argued that
they should enjoy "a citizen's treatment" on the mainland. Not only
should they be on the same footing as mainlanders when it comes to healthcare,
social security and property purchases, but they should also be allowed to join
the army and apply for jobs in the civil service. Strictly speaking, the
residence scheme is only aimed at providing convenience for Hong Kong people
living on the mainland. It is not equivalent to "a citizen's
treatment". According to mainland laws, foreigners are not allowed to
serve in government departments in areas like the military, diplomacy, security
and confidential or important work out of consideration for national security
and the interests of society. Neither can they become lawyers. Though Hong Kong
people are not foreigners, their identity as people from outside the territory
also places them under similar limitations. Such limitations will no doubt
hinder the integration of the two regions. However, looked at from a different
perspective, some of these limitations manifest exactly the boundaries between
the "two systems".
Rights and obligations are two sides of the same coin. To enjoy equal
rights with mainlanders means to shoulder the same obligations. Demanding
absolute equality could jeopardise the boundaries between the "two
systems". There are some views that the offer of "a citizen's
treatment" to Hong Kong people should be a one-way process in which the
mainland grants a right to Hong Kong people which they do not have to
reciprocate. Some people want the mainland authorities to remove limitations on
Hong Kong people's purchase of property in some first-tier and second-tier
cities, while others think that the requirement that Hong Kong people have to
pay mainland taxes after living on the mainland for over half a year will
affect Hong Kong people's willingness to work and do business there. They
therefore propose "Hong Kong taxes for Hong Kong people". These
suggestions would no doubt benefit Hong Kong people. However, in mainlanders'
eyes, these suggestions are no different from offering privileges, which could
lead to complaints or even worsen the conflicts between the two regions. As the
integration of the Greater Bay Area involves eleven cities, it is inevitable
that they have different requests. It is important to be reasonable and
appropriate. There is no such thing as a free lunch. As the integration of the
Greater Bay Area is a two-way process, it is impossible for Hong Kong people to
enjoy all the benefits without giving away anything.
港人求內地居民待遇 利生活方便忌索特權
國務院推出內地居住證制度，為合資格港澳台人士提供內地居住證明，可以在多方面享有與內地居民相同待遇。新措施不僅便利常住內地的數十萬名港人，亦有助未來大灣區融合。目前港人在內地生活面對諸多不便，部分源於不必要的條條框框行政束縛，部分則牽涉「兩制」根本分際，前者需要拆牆鬆綁，後者需要小心處理。兩地融合是雙向進程，各有所得各有付出，分寸拿揑必須合度。港人在內地需要的是方便而不是特權，強求特權優惠，最終付出可能比所得更多。
廣東省常住港人超過50萬，在內地各城市讀書的港人學生估計亦有1.5萬人，居住證制度大大方便他們日常生活，還可以為有意到內地工作、讀書及退休的港人提供誘因。近年，本港不少意見認為，港人在內地應享有「國民待遇」，除了在醫療、社保、置業等各方面與內地人看齊，還可以參軍和投考公務員等。嚴格來說，居住證制度只是方便港人在內地生活，並不完全等同「國民待遇」。根據內地法例，出於國家安全和社會利益考慮，外國人不能在內地軍事、外交、公安和機要部門服務，也不能出任律師等。雖然港人不是外國人，惟境外人士身分，意味港人亦面對類似限制。這些限制當然會妨礙兩地融合，然而從另一角度看，部分限制措施的存在，其實正正體現了「兩制」分際。
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