政策專題研究系列
Policy
Research Series
諮詢文件二：經濟 Consultation Paper 2: Economy
撮要
背景
1. 2004-05年度政府預算案的重點是休養生息，但內容中不曾提及如何提升香港競爭力。香港未來經濟的重要動力卻取決於競爭力能否維持優勢，但是香港因政府不善，以往香港賴以成功的競爭優勢不斷被侵食，嚴重影響香港的經濟發展。
2 . 我們需要在經濟轉營中找尋本身的優勢及定位，與鄰近地區配合發展才是長遠的經濟方向。民主黨認為應該從政策研究、改善理財、經濟及金融政策等來提升香港的競爭力。
公共財政
1. 將滅赤目標延遲至2009/10年度
�� 民主黨建議將滅赤目標延遲至2009/10年度。政府應發行資產政府債券，集資約1,000億元，配合中期的經濟增長和稅務調整，增加政府收入，應付政府未來開支。
�� 同時，政府亦應竭力落實各項資源增值計劃，確保各部門善用資源，減少浪費公帑，使財政壓力可在2009/10年度獲得紓緩。
2. 具體稅收建議︰
�� 引入累進利得稅；
�� 取消薪俸稅標準稅率16%；
�� 引入累進差餉三級制；
�� 引入更多環保稅項。
3. 民主黨反對影響民生及拖慢經濟復甦的措施：
�� 反對進一步削減社會福利、醫療及教育服務；
�� 反對調高影響民生的政府收費；
�� 反對在經濟不景下開徵銷售稅。
4. 從外匯基金轉撥收入應付財政緊縮
�� 民主黨建議，在政府財政緊絀的情況下，外匯基金在每年的投資收益中扣除政府分帳後，應再以其餘數的一半，撥予政府作額外財政收入，以100億元為上限，紓緩政府財赤下面對的現金壓力。
�� 以2003年為例，外匯基金投資收入為896億元，政府可從中分帳257億元，餘數約639億元。若以100億元為上限，政府便可多獲100億元額外撥款作為一般收入。
�� 轉撥更多投資收入並不會有違外匯基金條例，同時也不會影響香港金融和財經市場及制度的穩定性。
經濟建議︰
5. 重新發展傳統工業
�� 研究設立邊境工業區或河套工業區，吸引內地或海外的企業來港設廠。
6. 高科技工業發展
�� 政府應該加強保護高科技工業產品的知識產權，藉以持續發展高增值、高科技的工業項目，如科技、通訊、高技術的電子儀器及生物科技等。
�� 政府亦應加強促進大學及企業間全面合作，讓香港工業能借助大學的高質素研究成果，提升各類高增值及高科技產品的質素。
7. 加強支援發展創意工業
�� 加強支援從事創意工業的中小企業，例如加強知識產權的保護。
8. 大中華經濟圈
�� 政府應進一步研究將CEPA提升至更廣闊的層次，涵蓋中、港、台、澳門四地，成立包括兩岸四地的大中華貿易區。
9. 大嶼山旅遊發展
�� 在大嶼山重新制訂全方位旅遊發展藍圖，以環境保育概念及可持續發展原則，配合迪士尼公園、渡假式酒店群等，提供多元化文娛康樂設施，並以大嶼山優美自然環境作特色，將大嶼山發展為地區生態休閒公園，從而推廣「綠色旅遊」。
10. 珠三角「個人遊」
�� 政府應加強與內地部門合作，深化珠三角地區的優勢，發展地區旅遊網絡。
�� 政府也可就在香港舉辦珠三角交易會進行可行性研究。
�� 港珠澳大橋項目應同時包括興建客運及貨運鐵路，以快速及環保的鐵路系統支援珠三角繁忙的交通運輸網絡。
11. 發展香港醫療及療養服務
�� 發展香港成為亞太區卓越的醫療及復康服務，為區內不同國家及地區的有需要人士提供優質醫療、復康及療養服務；並同時將醫療與旅遊作「套餐」推廣，繼而發展旅遊業、零售業、物流業及酒店業等。
12. 發展人民幣銀行服務及交易所角色
�� 在本地銀行開展人民幣服務的基礎上，金融管理局未來應爭取發展成人民幣結算交易所，向其他本地銀行結算人民幣及支付利息，再將人民幣回流國內。
�� 特區政府應盡快與中央就「合格境內機構投資者制度」(QDII) 進行更深入磋商，容許在資本賬還未開放的情況下，爭取放寬內地居民來港投資的限制。
Abstract
Public Finance:
1. To postpone
the deadline for the elimination of the budget deficit to 2009/10
�� According to the present economic interim forecast, with moderate tax
rate adjustments, income of $100 billion from issuing bonds for the purchase
of public assets, fully implementation of the internal enhanced productivity
programmes and keeping in check the wasteful spending, the budget deficit
is expected to disappear by 2009/10.
2. Tax Reform:
�� To introduce a progressive profits tax structure with two tax bands
�� To remove the standard rate of 16 per cent of Salaries Tax
�� To implement a progressive rates, structure with three bands
�� To introduce “Green Taxes”
3. To avoid
cutting public expenditure dramatically
�� To strongly oppose the expenditure cuts in education, social welfare
and health services. Any drastic reduction in public expenditure will
have negative effect on the development of our society.
�� To continue freezing government charges and fees which affect people’s
livelihood.
�� To oppose sales tax during the economic slump.
4. Exchange
Fund - To transfer profits gained from the investment of the Fund to the
general revenue in order to reduce our budget deficits
�� The Democratic Party suggests transferring part of the profit gained
from the investment of the Exchange Fund to the government’s general revenue.
After deducting the government’s share of profit, half of the rest of
the profit shall go to the government’s revenue. The maximum of the transferral
should be $10 billion.
�� For instance, in 2003 the investment profit of the Exchange Fund was
$89.6 billion. According to the Ordinance, the government was entitled
to have $25.7 billion from the profit. After deducting $25.7 billion,
there were $63.9 billion left. According to our proposal, the government
can have another $10 billion which would go to the account of its general
revenue.
�� This proposal does not contravene the Exchange Fund Ordinance and would
not undermine the stability and integrity of our monetary and financial
systems and markets.
Economic Policy:
5. Traditional
industry
�� To study the development of an industrial zone at the boundary with
the Mainland.
6. Technology-driven
High Value-added industry
�� To develop high-value added industries, such as biotech and IT by strengthening
the intellectual property protection.
�� Government should facilitate the co-operation between the tertiary institutions
and enterprises in a bid to enable Hong Kong industry to keep pace with
the high quality research, thus raising the quality of various high value-added
and high-tech products.
�� Double taxation relief for R&D projects
7. To boost
up the innovative industries
�� To develop innovative industries in a well-planned manner. The government
should provide more comprehensive assistance for the intellectual property
of innovative industries, so as to promote the sustainable development
of Hong Kong’s innovative industries.
8. Greater
China Free Trade Zone
�� To seek mutual agreement with the central government in the long run
and exert more effort to form Greater China Free Trade Zone covering China,
Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
9. Asia-Pacific
Leisure Centre
�� The Democratic Party calls upon the government to conduct a thorough
re-planning of the Lantau Islands and to develop it as an eco-tourist
zone.
10. Springboard
for Developing Regional Tourism
�� The SAR government should co-operate with the governments of Macao and
the Pearl River Delta (PRD) area to develop a web of visiting points in
the region.
�� To take feasibility study of holding a PRD trade fair to foster co-operation
for regional tourism and to promote the region to the world.
�� The Democratic Party suggests that the proposed bridge linking Hong
Kong, Zhuhai and Macao should provide both freight and passenger rail
services.
11. Regional
Medical and Recuperative Services Centre
�� The government should co-ordinate various health sectors to develop
Hong Kong to be a regional medical and recuperative service centre.
�� The government should assist both the tourist and health sectors to
develop the “Recuperative Travelling Scheme”, providing travelling packages
for tourists to receive health or medical services in Hong Kong.’
12. Strengthening
Hong Kong’s Monetary Services:
�� The Monetary Authority should also develop its role as a Yuan-denominated
clearinghouse, so as to direct the Yuan to flow back to the Mainland.
�� The government should negotiate with Beijing on Qualified Domestic Institutional
Investor (QDII) on the relaxation of rules restricting Mainland residents
from investing in Hong Kong.
