Chairman's Report
主席報告
近期人民幣貶值，令短途訪港的遊客卻
步，加上美元升值，8月內地訪港旅客人
數下跌7.1%。鑑於不利因素持續，協會估
計零售銷售繼2014年錄得0.2%跌幅後，
2015年全年將會持續下跌2%至3%，而
2016年的情況將會進一步轉差，可能導致
零售商要採取更嚴謹的營運措施，甚至精
簡人手。
扶助業界 敢言發聲
各種針對內地旅客的示威及負面情緒，無
疑對香港旅遊及零售業造成重大打擊。我
們即時向政府反映業界的困難，喜見財政
司司長於2015-16年度的財政預算案公布
一系列支援零售業的措施，包括重點為中
小企零售商提供協助。
我們亦與香港旅遊發展局攜手合作，於4
至5月推出刺激消費的「開心．著數大行
動」，成功號召100多間會員公司於其下
超過4,100間商店推出吸引的購物優惠。
現時營商環境嚴峻，若情況持續，受僱於零
售業及相關行業的80萬名員工將有可能大受
影響。協會不斷向政府呼籲要採取適時的措
施，例如成立跨部門專責小組，制訂長遠政
策，以刺激零售業及相關行業增長。
示威活動對香港的形象帶來負面影響，我
們促請政府於國際層面，尤其是向內地旅
客加強推廣，以重塑香港正面及好客的形
象。與此同時，我們希望政府在不影響本
港市民日常生活的情況下，合理地擴大
「個人遊」計劃，涵蓋超越現時49個內地
城市。
縱然零售銷售數據連續多月下跌，但租金
仍然高企，為此我們不斷向傳媒朋友，表
達租金失衡的問題已嚴重影響行業的競爭
力及零售商的前景，特別是對作為業界骨
幹的中小企零售商影響尤其深遠。
With recent yuan depreciation dampening short trips
to Hong Kong, and a rising US dollar, mainland visitor
arrivals plunged 7.1% in August. As unfavourable factors
continue to prevail, the Association anticipates retail sales
to record negative growth of 2-3% for 2015, compared to
-0.2% last year. We also believe the worst is yet to come
in 2016, which may cause retailers to downsize and adopt
more stringent measures to survive.
Make our Voice Heard
There is no doubt the protests and negative sentiments
against mainland visitors has dealt a heavy blow to
inbound tourism and retail. The Government understands
retailers’ difficulties, and as a result, in his 2015-16
Budget, the Financial Secretary announced an array of
measures to support retail, especially the SMEs.
Amongst all, the Association worked closely with the Hong
Kong Tourism Board to launch a city-wide consumption
campaign, the “Happy@hongkong Super JETSO”, from
April to May. The Association rallied over 100 member
companies with more than 4,100 outlets to offer attractive
offers during the campaign period.
Seeing the imminent austerity, the Association continues
to urge the Government to take immediate measures to
boost growth of retail and related industries that affect the
employment of some 800,000 people, in particular, by
setting up a cross-departmental task force to spearhead
initiatives with a long term vision.
Amid prevailing negative publicity caused by the protests,
we also stress that it is of paramount importance for the
Government to rebuild Hong Kong’s image both on an
international level and in the Mainland; and at the same
time to adopt a rational approach to expand the Individual
Visit Scheme (IVS) beyond the current 49 Mainland cities
without disrupting Hong Kong people’s daily life.
On the imbalanced growth of high rentals despite
dwindling retail sales, we have also taken a high-profile
approach to pitch the media about its devastating impacts
on the industry’s competitiveness and survival of retailers,
especially the SMEs who make up the backbone of the
industry.
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