As always, the Association will continue playing a vital role in representing the
retail trade. With a new team of top government officials on board, we would
kindle the relations and invigorate our advocacy on key subjects, including the
MPF offsetting mechanism, standard working hours, review of minimum wage
rate, acute manpower shortage, and challenges posed on to our industry by
the rapidly evolving e-Commerce development. Meanwhile, we are going to
share our views with the Government upon their preparation for the 2018 Policy
Address and Budget.
On the abolishment of the MPF offsetting mechanism, we are very glad that the
new Administration would reconsider the views of different sectors before putting
forward any new proposal. Echoed with other major business chambers and
trade associations, the Association urges the Government to propose effective
arrangements to alleviate the financial burden on employers, especially those of
SMEs, when drafting any new proposal.
With the new statutory minimum wage (SMW) rate being raised to $34.5 in May
2017, the Association and our member companies were invited to meet with
the Minimum Wage Commission in September. We are going to highlight the
negative ripple effect of raising the SMW rate in view of the current business
downturn and acute manpower shortage to Ms. Priscilla Wong, the newly-
appointed Chairman of the Commission.
Stepping into the second half of the year, the Association has many exciting
events lining up for our members. The 34
th
AGM Luncheon is taking place at JW
Marriott Hotel on 13 October. We are very honoured to have Mr. Edward Yau,
Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development, as our guest speaker to share
the Government’s vision in sharpening Hong Kong's competitiveness and the
implications and opportunities to the retail industry.
Another new initiative derived from our “Quality E-shop Recognition Scheme”
is the “Top 10 Quality E-Shop Award”. With an aim to promote the best online
customer experience in Hong Kong, the Association will give recognition to the
top 10 e-shops that have achieved the highest marks in the whole year; these
e-shops will enjoy a series of publicity and promotion on different media channels
coordinated by the Association. This award will be presented at our Annual
Dinner on 5 December at the Grand Hall of HKCEC. And, we are very honoured to
have Mr. Matthew Cheung, the Chief Secretary, as our Guest of Honour this year.
Taking this opportunity, I am very excited to let you know that the Association will
be celebrating its 35
th
anniversary in 2018. While we are planning for next year’s
celebration, may I remind members to renew your membership and to encourage
fellow retailers to join our big family to enjoy exclusive benefits and networking
opportunities.
I look forward to seeing you in our upcoming events.
一如以往，協會將會繼續肩負代表零售業界
的重任。隨著新政府上任，我們將會繼續與
政府建立良好關係，並積極就主要議題發表
意見，包括強積金對沖機制、標準工時、最
低工資檢討、人手嚴重短缺問題，以及電子
商務急速發展對業界帶來的挑戰。同時，我
們亦會就
2018
年施政報告及財政預算案諮
詢，向政府反映意見。
就取消強積金對沖機制的安排，協會樂見新
任政府表示會在推行任何新方案前重新考慮
各界意見。協會與其他主要商會和行業協會
均希望政府在草擬新方案時，應同時考慮如
何避免對僱主造成沉重的財政負擔，尤其對
中小企的影響。
政府已於
2017
年
5
月將法定最低工資上調至
34.5
元，而協會和會員亦獲邀於
9
月與最低工
資委員會會面。屆時我們將向新任最低工資
委員會主席王沛詩女士反映，在營商環境低
迷和嚴重人手短缺的情況下，調高法定最低
工資帶來的負面連鎖效應。
踏入下半年，協會為會員準備了一系列精彩
活動。第
34
屆周年大會暨午餐交流研討會將
於
10
月
13
日假香港
JW
萬豪酒店舉行，協會有
幸邀得商務及經濟發展局局長邱騰華先生擔
任主講嘉賓，分享政府在提升香港競爭力的
發展方向，以及相關政策對零售業帶來的啟
示和契機。
另外，協會亦為「優質網店認證計劃」增設
全新「十大優質網店大獎」，旨在宣揚香港
的優質網上購物體驗。協會將會表揚全年最
高分數的十大優質網店，並為得獎網店透過
不同媒體渠道進行一系列宣傳推廣活動。協
會亦將於
12
月
5
日假香港會議展覽中心大會堂
舉行的周年晚會頒發獎項，今年亦很榮幸邀
請到政務司司長張建宗先生蒞臨主禮。
2018
將會是協會
35
周年誌慶的大日子，在
我們積極籌備慶祝活動之際，希望大家更新
會籍，並鼓勵其他零售同業加入協會的大家
庭，以享受各種獨家禮遇，同時廣拓人脈。
希望大家能踴躍參與協會的活動。
4
