Hong Kong Still Shines
Jürg Rupp, Executive Editor
I
t's February 1996, right after Chinese New Year. I'm standing in Tiananmen Square in
Beijing. The Mainland has to wait another year to get back the now so-called crown jewel, Hong
Kong. A very large panel showing a digital clock is on display in the square. The clock is counting
back the seconds so every visitor can see how much longer to go until Hong Kong belongs to the
motherland again. China is excited.
Mixed Emotions
However, in Hong Kong, which means “fragrant harbor”, the mood is very different. Because everybody. knows what’s going to happen on June 30, 1997, there are mixed emotions among the people of Hong Kong. Will the ”one country, two systems” policy work? And how will the relations between Hong Kong and the mainland be? Will Hong Kong lose its competitiveness?
On the other hand, most of the manufacturing has moved from Hong Kong to the neighboring Chinese Guangdong province, mainly to Shenzhen. And in these emotional moments before the handover, the economic community of Hong Kong didn’t think of the many problems and obstacles in the relations with the Mainland.
In Perfect Fit
Ten years later, one thing is clear: Hong Kong is in perfect fit, and the “one country, two systems” agreement is working. Hong Kong is still the gateway to Asia and the mainland for several reasons. From a geographical point of view, Hong Kong is at the center of Asia. Within five hours on a plane, one reaches half of the world’s population.
Hong Kong is a World Trade Organization member, and for the 14th consecutive year was voted the "freest economy" of the world. The headquarters of 3,800 mainland and international companies are located in Hong Kong. Licensed banks with offices in Hong Kong total 140.
CEPA
Probably the most important reason for Hong Kong’s favorable position with China is the new CEPA agreement. The Close Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) demolished more barriers than ever. From Jan. 1, 2008, the mainland further relaxed the market access conditions in 28 areas. Further information can be found at www.tid.gov/hk/english/cepa.
Mixed Emotions
However, in Hong Kong, which means “fragrant harbor”, the mood is very different. Because everybody. knows what’s going to happen on June 30, 1997, there are mixed emotions among the people of Hong Kong. Will the ”one country, two systems” policy work? And how will the relations between Hong Kong and the mainland be? Will Hong Kong lose its competitiveness?
On the other hand, most of the manufacturing has moved from Hong Kong to the neighboring Chinese Guangdong province, mainly to Shenzhen. And in these emotional moments before the handover, the economic community of Hong Kong didn’t think of the many problems and obstacles in the relations with the Mainland.
In Perfect Fit
Ten years later, one thing is clear: Hong Kong is in perfect fit, and the “one country, two systems” agreement is working. Hong Kong is still the gateway to Asia and the mainland for several reasons. From a geographical point of view, Hong Kong is at the center of Asia. Within five hours on a plane, one reaches half of the world’s population.
Hong Kong is a World Trade Organization member, and for the 14th consecutive year was voted the "freest economy" of the world. The headquarters of 3,800 mainland and international companies are located in Hong Kong. Licensed banks with offices in Hong Kong total 140.
CEPA
Probably the most important reason for Hong Kong’s favorable position with China is the new CEPA agreement. The Close Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) demolished more barriers than ever. From Jan. 1, 2008, the mainland further relaxed the market access conditions in 28 areas. Further information can be found at www.tid.gov/hk/english/cepa.
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香港依然光芒四射
时值1996年2月，新春刚过；我伫立北京天安门广场内。再过一年，中国才能收回向有冠冕 上明珠之称的香港。广场上筑起了大型的倒数钟屏幕，闪灯不停地以秒速倒数，向游客宣 示香港将要回归的剩余时间。中
国对此雀跃不已。
情怀复杂
然而，以”香港”为名的香港内，却浮现着不一样的情怀。香港人对1997年6月30日的来临， 普遍有着复杂的心情：一国两制是否真的可行？中、港两地未来的关系将如何？香港会否因
此失去向有的竞争力？
另一方面，香港不少厂家已将厂房由香港迁往深圳等广东省内的毗邻城市。荡漾在回归前 的感触情怀内，香港经济团体并未能预计回归后同大陆关系上将会出现怎样的问题及阻碍。
发展稳健
10年转眼而逝，事实告诉我们：香港发展稳健，一国两制的协议依然运行。香港仍雄踞着亚 洲及中国的大门这重要位置，个中不无因素。地理上，香港位处亚洲中央，只需5 个小时航 程，即
可广及全球半数的人口。
香港是世贸成员，并连续14年获选为全球”最自由的经济体系”。中国及全球合共3800家跨 国企业以香港为商业总部，而在此设有分行的银行更达140家。
CEPA
缔造香港现时优势的主要原因，应为中国实行的”内地与香港关于建立更紧密经贸关系的 安排”(Closer Economic Partnership Agreement, CEPA).
CEPA 打破的贸易障碍，较以 往任何贸易措施为多。中国更自2008年1 月1日起，进一步将CEPA的贸易放宽措施，推广至 其它28个范畴。如需更多信息，可浏览
www.tid.gov/hk/english/cepa。