In view of the present situation, I have recommended the government to boost up
the market by opening up new visitor sources and stimulating internal demand. It
is anticipated that tourists will be better diverted after some new ancillary facilities
for tourism, including shopping centres at the boundary areas, are available. The
government can thus study ways to expand origins of tourists, such as extension of
Individual Visit Scheme to other Mainland cities.
As regards the internal demand, I reckon that with the "flooded" treasury, the
government should return wealth to people. I hope the Budget which is going to
be released in late February will have more relief measures for the society, such as a
further reduction in salaries tax. This would make people less financially tight and,
therefore, help stimulate local consumptions.
In the long run, I do support the government's proposal to use the Wan Chai Sports
Ground for comprehensive development, including convention and exhibition venues
and other community facilities. It is because a boom in conference and exhibition
industry is not just conducive to export businesses, but also beneficial to other
industries like retail, catering, hotel, transportation and logistics.
But according to an expert study, Hong Kong will be short of 130,000m
2
of convention
and exhibition venues during peak seasons in 2028. If we do not take action at present
to get well prepared for the market demand, more and more related activities will be
moved to the surrounding cities in the future. In consequence, Hong Kong will lose
numerous golden opportunities to develop our economy.
有見及此，我已建議政府從「增加客
源，拉動內需」兩方面著手，促進市道
回暖。就前者而言，隨著邊境購物城等
設施陸續啟用，旅客將有較好的分流，
政府可研究擴大外來客源，包括逐步增
加自由行城市，引入更多自由行旅客。
至於後者，我認為既然庫房「水浸」，
政府好應該還富於民。希望在二月底
發表的財政預算案，政府會推出多些
惠民措施，例如增加薪俸稅退稅等，
讓市民手頭鬆動一點，增加消費，以
拉動內需。
長遠而言，我支持當局研究將灣仔運動
場改作會展等用途。因為會展業除了有
助出口貿易，亦可帶動零售、飲食、航
空、酒店、運輸物流等行業。但據顧問
研究，到
2028
年，香港會議展覽場地在
旺季期間會將短缺
13
萬多平方米，如果
我們不及早作好準備，日後將有更多會
展活動轉到鄰近地區舉行，香港就白白
錯失促進經濟的良機。
6
