雙語社評齊齊聽

英語 (足本收聽)

普通話 (足本收聽)

【明報專訊】THE World Economic Forum (WEF) has published the latest Global Competitiveness Report. Hong Kong's overall ranking has risen three places from ninth to sixth. Rises or falls in international rankings like this should not be blown out of proportion. They should be treated with common sense. It will be much more important to take the opportunity to review what we have fallen short of instead.

ENG audio 1

The report mentions that Hong Kong's first-rate infrastructure, open environment for competition and vibrant financial markets remain Hong Kong's biggest strengths. Over the past year, arguments over judicial independence have not died down thanks to the case of oath-takings, the interpretation of the Basic Law by the National People's Congress and the jailing of several social activists in recent months. Though some heavyweights in the legal field have stressed that it is wrong to say irresponsibly that "the rule of law is dead" just because the rulings are not to their liking, the arguments remain, and this inevitably affects Hong Kong's image. Hong Kong's score for judicial independence has fallen slightly from 6.3 two years ago to 6.1 (7 is the highest). It is open to question whether this is a reflection of reality or it is only a change of impression.

ENG audio 2

That Hong Kong's overall ranking has risen by three places is primarily attributable to its improvements in "business sophistication" and "innovation". The WEF has described Hong Kong as having made "a step in the right direction". However, looking at the twelve factors, it is not difficult for us to see that Hong Kong still scores relatively low in innovation at only 4.5. It is necessary for Hong Kong to play catch-up. As early as 2013, the government proposed the building of a "Smart City" to advance innovation and technology. However, two years into the founding of the Innovation and Technology Bureau (ITB), many ambitious plans are still all talk and no action, with concrete results nowhere to be seen. Last year, the government allocated $2 billion for the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund aimed at providing funding for start-ups. But it was not until this month that start-ups were invited to apply. Several months ago, the ITB commissioned a report on the blueprint for the "Smart City" plan, in which the directions for its development were outlined. But the government will not publish the blueprint until the third quarter of next year. This is too slow.

ENG audio 3

In order to build a "Smart City", it is necessary to share data. However, many private companies in Hong Kong (such as franchised bus companies and operators of carparks) are unwilling to do so, and this is preventing the proposal of "Smart Parking" and "Smart Transportation" from being realised. The government should handle this as soon as possible. However, until now the government has shown no determination to deal with such an urgent matter urgently, and in the commissioned report it was only suggested that the government set up a central coordination unit in order to adopt an open data policy. Even if the government publishes the blueprint in autumn next year and adopts the suggestion, the time needed by the central coordination unit to resolve the problem of open data will still be cause for worry.

ENG audio 4

As described by Klaus Schwab, founder of the WEF, the world is now in an era of talentism, and capitalism in a new mode. Innovative people will replace capital as the most important factor of production. Perhaps not everyone agrees with the theory of talentism, but there is a consensus among scholars that the ability to train and attract talent will play a crucial role in determining the economic performance of different regions.

ENG audio 5

迎接「人才主義」時代 難容官僚保守作風

世界經濟論壇發表《全球競爭力報告》，香港整體排名跳升3級，由第9位升至第6位。對於這類國際排名比併，毋須過度放大一時升跌得失，秉持平常心看待，趁機檢討不足，意義來得更大。

PTH audio 1

《報告》提到，一流基建設施、開放的競爭環境、金融市場蓬勃等，仍是香港最大優勢。過去一年，由立法會宣誓案、人大釋法，再到近月社運中人判囚，圍繞司法獨立的爭論喧囂不已，儘管有權威法律界人士強調，不能因為判決不合心意，妄言「法治已死」，可是相關爭拗不休，難免有損香港形象。香港司法獨立評分，由之前兩年的6.3分（7分最高）微跌至6.1分，到底是客觀現實反映，還是主觀印象變化，恐怕言人人殊。

PTH audio 2

今年香港整體排名「3級跳」，主要是由於「營商先進度」和「創新」改善，世界經濟論壇形容，香港「走對了路」。可是細看12項指標評分，不難發現「創新」一項評分仍然偏低，只有4.5分，必須急起直追。早於2013年，政府已提出建設「智慧城市」，推動創科，然而創科局成立兩年，很多鴻圖大計仍然只聞樓梯響，未見具體成績。去年政府撥出20億元作為創科創投基金，向初創企業提供撥款，直到本月才開始接受申請；數月前，創科局委託顧問公司發表智慧城市藍圖研究報告，勾勒發展方向，惟政府打算明年第3季才正式公布發展藍圖，步伐未免太慢。

PTH audio 3

建設「智慧城市」需要數據共享，惟本港很多私人機構諸如專營巴士公司和停車場營運商，都不願分享數據，妨礙落實「智能泊車」和「智慧出行」等構思，政府理應盡快處理，然而迄今未見當局有急事急辦的決心，顧問報告只是建議政府設立中央統籌小組，推動開放數據政策。就算政府明秋公布藍圖採納建議，統籌小組還要花多少時間解決開放數據問題，實在令人憂心。

PTH audio 4

世界經濟論壇創辦人史瓦布形容，世界正進入「人才主義」（Talentism）時代，資本主義邁向新模式，具備創新能力的人才將取代資本，成為最重要的生產因素。史氏「新資本主義」之說並非人人同意，惟學者普遍認同，栽培和吸引人才的能力，將成為不同地區經濟表現高低的關鍵因素。

PTH audio 5

明報社評2017.09.28

Presented by lecturers of Hong Kong Community College, PolyU and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Mr NG, Raymond Wai-man

Lecturer

www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/staff_directory/language_communication/NG,_Raymond_Wai-man-140.html

周文駿

講師

www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/staff_directory/language_communication/CHOW,_Raymond_Wen-chun-92.html

【Bilingual Editorial】