High rental and shortage of manpower are two big difficulties we are facing all
along. In the former case, I am going to amend a motion in LegCo to urge the
Government to expedite the development of new towns and strengthen the
planning of retail land and ancillary facilities. I also request the Housing Authority
and the Housing Society to study how to re-assign the spaces on the lower floors,
such as the ground and platforms, in some housing estates for retail use. It will help
increase the supply of retail outlets and relieve the upward pressure on rentals.
On the manpower side, I understand that the Hong Kong Retail Management
Association is sparing no effort to participate in training aspects. The Association
has been collaborating with the Vocational Training Council (VTC) to jointly launch
the Earn & Learn Pilot Scheme for Retail Industry. I think the Scheme is worthy of
support as it effectively incorporates classroom learning and working that can ease
the manpower strain of the industry and attract more youngsters to join the retail
workforce. For the future, I look forward to working closely with the Association
and hope we will be able to help the retail industry in Hong Kong come out of the
trough soon and have a steady development.
一直以來，租金高昂和人手緊張，可謂
零售業的兩座大山。對於前者，我將在
立法會修訂一項議案，要求政府加快發
展新市鎮，加強對零售業用地和配套設
施的規劃，並要求房委會和房協研究改
劃部分屋邨物業的低層空間（如地面及
平台等）作零售業用途，以增加商舖供
應，紓緩租金上升壓力。
人手方面，我知道香港零售管理協會亦
一直不遺餘力地參與培訓工作，特別是
與職訓局合辦的零售業「職」學創前路
先導計劃，集工作與課堂學習於一爐，
非常實用有效，很值得支持。我期望日
後與協會緊密合作，議會內外一心，共
同協助本港零售業早日走出低谷，更有
長足的發展。
6
