It has become a hot topic to contemplate how the prolonged
adjustment of the retail trade, which has lasted for 16 months, could
be salvaged. This latest statistics have shown that significant declines
have extended from luxury items such as jewelleries, watches, electrical
appliances and cameras to durable goods. This means even the
domestic market in Hong Kong is also heading towards a gradual
slowdown. The retail, tourism, import /export trade, wholesale,
transport and warehouse sectors together make up 35% of our GDP;
and hire close to 1.3 million of the workforce; hence they are extremely
important to our overall economy and livelihood. The Government
must take seriously the consequential impact of the weakening retail
industry.
It is my humble view that the Government should make use of
this opportunity to upgrade the tourism facilities, strengthen our
attractiveness as a tourist and shopping destination and boost tourism
promotion in order to lure visitors from other overseas markets.
Some in the trade also agreed that more events should be organised
in Hong Kong such as the annual Rugby Sevens and major concerts as
these would help extend the stay of visitors and boost the occupancy
rate of hotels. The Food & Wine Festival scheduled for end of the
year has not only become an attraction for locals and overseas high
spending visitors but also acted as a stimulant to local consumption.
Such initiatives should be further developed.
During a recent lunch meeting with the Japanese Consul-General, it
was revealed that the Consulate office was planning to organise a Japan
Festival in October and November to promote Japanese culture and
products. Other countries are also considering similar campaigns. This
came at a time when international tourists are moving their travelling
destinations away from terrorism stricken European countries to more
relaxed Asian cities. The local businesses are expected to organise other
events to sync with such initiatives and this will certainly help our retail
sector recover from the current depression.
Lastly, I wish to thank the RMA and its members for the considerable
backing given to me and my work over the years. Every project I have
undertaken could only be accomplished with your support. Looking
ahead, the sector will still meet with a lot of different challenges and I
hope your association and everyone working in the sector would join
hands to protect our rights and the business environment; and also to
give your continued and greater support to my successor.
到底有何良策去幫助已經陷入調整逾
16
個月的零售行業
復蘇已經成為熱門話題，尤其是近幾個月的統計數字顯
示，錄得下跌的商品門類已經由面向遊客的珠寶首飾、
鐘錶、電器和攝影器材等奢侈品，擴大到面向內需市場
的耐用品，反映本港內部消費也在逐步放緩！零售、旅
遊和相關的進出口貿易、批發、運輸及倉庫等行業的經
濟貢獻，合共佔本地生產總值（
GDP
）三成半，而聘用
的總勞動人口接近
130
萬，對香港整體經濟和民生都非
常重要。因此，政府必須重視零售行業下滑帶來的連鎖
反應。
愚認為，參考中央政府過往在經濟放緩時期推出拉動內
需措施的做法、趁訪港遊客減少期間提升香港接待遊客
的設施和配套、加強香港購物的誠信度和吸引力、加強
宣傳吸引內地以外的國際遊客等，都不失為最基本的必
需措施。
也有同業認同，增辦一些香港獨特的盛事活動相當有
效，七人欖球賽和大型演唱會，就吸引了不少消費力較
強的海外遊客來港並逗留較長時間，期間帶動酒店入住
率、高端消費和飲食行業有短暫的回升；而年底舉行的
美酒佳餚節，更成為本地人士熱衷參加的活動。這類活
動既能夠吸引海內外的高端消費遊客，也帶動了本地消
費氣氛和意欲，應該加強和更多元化。
較早前應日本駐港總領事邀請飯聚時，對方透露會率先
響應在今年
10
月和
11
月在港舉行日本節，宣傳日本文
化、商品和旅遊，希望取得拉動香港本地消費、推廣日
本出口和旅遊等多方面的成效。與此同時，亦有其他國
家也在研究推出同樣的特色活動，尤其是歐洲部分國家
的旅遊業開始受到持續發生的恐怖主義活動影響，不少
國際遊客已經將目的地轉到相對較輕鬆的亞洲城市；若
特區政府能夠及時提升旅遊及相關的配套，增加舉行大
型活動和加強旅遊內容，屆時商界加以配合推出推廣活
動，必能有助香港零售業的復蘇。
最後，再次多謝香港零售管理協會及各會員，在過去對本
人工作的支持，對提升香港零售行業質素付出的貢獻，儘
管為行業所爭取的未必盡如人意，然而每項工作都因為有
你
/
妳的支持，才能完成任務。未來，行業仍會面對眾多挑
戰，希望
貴會繼續與行內同業，攜手合作關注行業發展
的需要、維護行業合理權益和營商環境，亦給予下任批發
及零售界立法會議員同樣，甚至更大的支持。
6
