克服疫境再上路 香港更需大灣區

 <轉載自2020年9月29日 明報 社評>

疫情打擊全球經濟，國際形勢波譎雲詭，香港要克服疫境再上路，必須注入更多發展動力，放眼大灣區是切實可行的選擇，由商界到科技界都有意見認為，疫下需因時制宜捨遠圖近，進軍大灣區是大方向。廣東省長馬興瑞最近表示，將舉全省之力推進大灣區建設，澳門當局亦在積極籌謀，香港卻未見有太多動作，除了受疫情民情影響，港府推動力亦明顯不足。內地與澳門疫情受控，香港仍未擺脫泥沼，港康碼至今未通，窒礙粵港澳人員往來，然而當局在政策層面仍有很多工作要做，不能坐等疫情結束再打算。港府必須加快與粵澳兩地部門磋商，打通各類關卡環節，制訂具體發展策略深化合作。

廣東舉全省之力 港府未見大作為

粵港澳大灣區列入國家發展策略至今3年有餘，由概念逐步化為行動。中央宣布多項政策拆牆鬆綁，包括擴大專業人士資格互認範圍、香港居民可申領內地居住證、港人大灣區其他城市置業可享當地人相同待遇等。大灣區建設有如鴨子划水，帶動各方面變化，隨着內地放寬置業限購政策，港人北上置業近年顯著增加。後修例時代香港社會撕裂加劇，多了人想移民台灣或其他國家，同樣多了人考慮在大灣區生活工作，雖然疫情窒礙香港與內地人員往來，然而只要兩地人員流動逐步恢復，有關勢頭相信只會更加明顯。

大灣區基礎設施互聯互通，連接廣州、東莞、深圳三市的城際鐵路深圳機場至前海段工程，不久前才舉行開工儀式，區域經濟一體化步伐持續加快。廣東省政府年初提出「灣區通」計劃，旨在促進公共交通、通訊收費、電子支付等領域標準互認、規則銜接、政策互通，便利粵港澳民眾往還，省長馬興瑞上周表示，將舉全省之力，推進大灣區建設，廣州市亦將推出更多措施，便利港澳人士在當地生活和享用醫療服務，支持港澳青年赴穗創業。大灣區醞釀推出跨境理財通，澳門為此亦在積極籌謀。相比之下，香港在大灣區方面未有太大動作，疫情下陷入停滯狀態，看不到政府有多少作為。

疫境前行掣肘多多，摸索前路必須務實行事，不能政治掛帥或意識形態先行。中美鬥爭愈演愈烈，還有疫情對全球產業鏈和經濟的衝擊，俱令香港發展環境出現巨變。以創科發展為例，疫下全球多地封城鎖國，窒礙創科業界交流往來，亦影響部分創科中小企或初創企業的業務擴展。疫下新常態，網上視像會議盛行，可是商務投資合作，始終要實地考察。本港很多初創企業雄心萬丈，放眼世界，然而全球疫情不知何時方休，短期難以親往歐美開拓市場，香港科技園公司董事局主席查毅超形容，勉強為之有如「扔石落水」，倒不如先放眼大灣區。

內地疫情受控，大灣區其他城市近在咫尺，不論是創科還是做生意都運作到，一待港康碼落實就可進軍。香港科技園現正準備方案，協助港企到大灣區發展，查毅超亦認為疫下因時制宜，拓展業界最重要的是地理上出入方便，倘若初創企業未能親赴歐美，便應暫緩進軍，等待環境許可才再考慮。

疫下創科捨遠圖近 打通關節要靠政府

疫情客觀現實不為個人主觀意志所轉移，國際形勢同樣影響着本港發展前景。美國竭力遏阻中國高科技發展，對港政策亦由經貿先行變成制華優先，除了打擊「香港製造」，又收緊限制高科技輸港。內地為免核心技術被美方「卡脖子」，銳意加快科技發展，廣東省長馬興瑞談及大灣區發展，提出未來應集中力量解決「卡脖子」問題，包括攜手港澳，加快建設國際科技創新中心，同時前瞻部署戰略產業建設，積極發展數碼經濟等新興產業等，凡此種種，皆為本港創科產業提供機遇。以往本港廠商太依賴美國市場，現在華府對港不再友善，內地提出國際國內雙循環發展概念，港商可以着眼拓展內地的內銷市場，大灣區正是一個跳板。

疫下大灣區對香港的重要性，比疫前更大。本港旅遊及零售業過去吸納大量勞動力，經歷反修例風暴和疫情衝擊，可見將來難復舊觀，開發大灣區，可以是協助吸納本港勞動力的一個方法，香港總商會總裁梁兆基認為，按照目前國際形勢，大灣區最有機會成為香港出路所在，然而港府在這方面的工作，明顯不及粵澳當局積極。港府雖設有大灣區辦公室，惟實際職權有限，若要加快步伐「追落後」，必須靠司局長牽頭大力推動；未有健康碼、政治阻力多，統統不能成為藉口。

香港克服疫境再上路要靠大灣區，加快具體推進則要靠政府。本港大企業有能力進軍內地市場，中小企卻遇到很多實際操作問題，例如商業登記、跨境資金調動、商業糾紛、信貸資料等，大灣區各城市做法不盡相同，簡單如跨境繳交水電費，都是中小企很關心的問題，很多具體安排都要靠區內政府協商打通。大灣區發展，香港明顯落後， 港人在內地工作和居住的稅務、福利、保險、勞工等問題仍待解決，港府必須加快與其他大灣區城市磋商處理，同時更應制訂短中長期具體目標，不能空談概念續歎慢板。

HK needs Greater Bay Area more than ever

Amid the pandemic-battered global economy and an unpredictable international situation, Hong Kong has to concentrate more on development efforts so as to overcome the adversities brought about by the pandemic and get on its feet again. A practical and viable choice is setting the city's sight on the Greater Bay Area. From the business sector to the technological sector, there are views that Hong Kong should flexibly respond to the circumstances and prefer the easily accessible to the out-of-reach. Making inroads into the Greater Bay Area is the big direction. However, the Hong Kong government's enterprise in this regard is obviously far from enough. In contrast to the mainland and Macao where the pandemic is under control, Hong Kong is still mired in the mud. The failure to implement the Hong Kong Health Code so far has obstructed people's travel between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of work to be done by the Hong Kong authorities on the policy level. They should not just sit back and wait until the end of the pandemic before making plans. The Hong Kong government must speed up its negotiation with Guangdong and Macao so as to eliminate the various bottlenecks and formulate substantial development strategies for deepening co-operation.

More than three years into the inclusion of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into China's national development strategy, the concept has been gradually turned into action. The central government has announced multiple policies to remove barriers and restraints such as broadening the scope of mutual recognition of professional qualifications, allowing Hong Kong residents to apply for the mainland's residence permits, giving Hong Kong people the same treatment as mainlanders regarding property purchases in Greater Bay Area cities other than Hong Kong and so forth. Because of the loosened restrictions on property purchases on the mainland, the number of Hong Kong people going north to buy homes has significantly increased in recent years. Although the pandemic has hindered travel between Hong Kong and the mainland, as long as people on the two sides gradually resume their travel, it is believed that the above-mentioned trend will only be even more obvious.

Infrastructure in the Greater Bay Area has been built for interconnectedness. The construction of the extension of the Guangzhou-Dongguan-Shenzhen intercity rail line from Shenzhen International Airport to Qianhai was kicked off not long ago. Economic integration in the region has continued to accelerate. At the beginning of this year, the Guangdong provincial government raised the idea of establishing a platform called "Bay Area Connect" with the aim of promoting mutual recognition of standards, better convergence of rules and interconnection of policies regarding public transport, telecommunication fees and electronic payments so as to facilitate the flow of people between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Last week, Governor of Guangdong Province Ma Xingrui said that his government will summon the province's full strength to boost the construction of the Greater Bay Area. The Guangzhou government will also roll out even more measures to make it more convenient for Hong Kong and Macao residents to live in Guangzhou and enjoy healthcare services there. There will also be measures helping Hong Kong and Macao young adults to start businesses in Guangzhou. Furthermore, the Greater Bay Area is preparing to launch a cross-boundary "Wealth Management Connect" scheme and Macao is also making active preparations accordingly. By comparison, Hong Kong has not taken any significant moves in this regard.

Many an impediment lies in the way forward amid the pandemic. To find the way out, one must adopt a pragmatic attitude rather than be politically orientated or put ideology in the first place. The escalating struggle between China and the US, as well as the impact of the pandemic on global industrial chains and the global economy, has caused great changes in the conditions of Hong Kong's development. On the contrary, the pandemic is under control on the mainland. Other cities in the Greater Bay Area are only a short distance away. Be it innovative technology or doing business, it is feasible. One can set off onto the mainland once the Hong Kong Health Code is implemented. The importance of the Greater Bay Area to Hong Kong in the times of a pandemic is greater than before.

For Hong Kong people who work or live on the mainland, issues concerning taxation, welfare, insurance and labour have yet to be resolved. The Hong Kong government must speed up the related discussion with other cities in the Greater Bay Area. At the same time, it must also set concrete goals for the short, medium and long term. Doctrinaire talk and continuing to play for time are in no way acceptable.

克服疫境再上路 香港更需大灣區

疫情打擊全球經濟，國際形勢波譎雲詭，香港要克服疫境再上路，必須注入更多發展動力，放眼大灣區是切實可行的選擇，由商界到科技界都有意見認為，疫下需因時制宜捨遠圖近，進軍大灣區是大方向，港府推動力卻明顯不足。內地與澳門疫情受控，香港仍未擺脫泥沼，港康碼至今未通，窒礙粵港澳人員往來，然而當局在政策層面仍有很多工作要做，不能坐等疫情結束再打算。港府必須加快與粵澳兩地部門磋商，打通各類關卡環節，制訂具體發展策略深化合作。

粵港澳大灣區列入國家發展策略至今3年有餘，由概念逐步化為行動。中央宣布多項政策拆牆鬆綁，包括擴大專業人士資格互認範圍、香港居民可申領內地居住證、港人大灣區其他城市置業可享當地人相同待遇等。隨着內地放寬置業限購政策，港人北上置業近年顯著增加。雖然疫情窒礙香港與內地人員往來，然而只要兩地人員流動逐步恢復，有關勢頭相信只會更加明顯。

大灣區基礎設施互聯互通，連接廣州、東莞、深圳三市的城際鐵路深圳機場至前海段工程，不久前才舉行開工儀式，區域經濟一體化步伐持續加快。廣東省政府年初提出「灣區通」計劃，旨在促進公共交通、通訊收費、電子支付等領域標準互認、規則銜接、政策互通，便利粵港澳民眾往還，省長馬興瑞上周表示，將舉全省之力，推進大灣區建設，廣州市亦將推出更多措施，便利港澳人士在當地生活和享用醫療服務，支持港澳青年赴穗創業。大灣區醞釀推出跨境理財通，澳門為此亦在積極籌謀。相比之下，香港在大灣區方面未有太大動作。

疫境前行掣肘多多，摸索前路必須務實行事，不能政治掛帥或意識形態先行。中美鬥爭愈演愈烈，還有疫情對全球產業鏈和經濟的衝擊，俱令香港發展環境出現巨變。內地疫情受控，大灣區其他城市近在咫尺，不論是創科還是做生意都運作到，一待港康碼落實就可進軍。疫下大灣區對香港的重要性，比疫前更大。

港人在內地工作和居住的稅務、福利、保險、勞工等問題仍待解決，港府必須加快與其他大灣區城市磋商處理，同時更應制訂短中長期具體目標，不能空談概念續歎慢板。