政壇：睇社論學英文

自由經濟非萬能　施政有為有不為

Economic freedom is not omnipotent;

the Government should know how to intervene

花無百日紅，香港連續十九年獲美國傳統基金會評為全球最自由經濟體，這頂桂冠還能保持到甚麼時候呢？美國智庫學者警告，隨着港府加強介入市場，推出多項規管措施，香港經濟自由度已嚴重受損，最終將失去全球自由經濟體寶座。

學者舉出港府三個干預市場的例子，包括限奶令、加徵物業交易印花稅，以及推行最低工資。事實上，雖然香港仍列最自由經濟榜首，其實得分已被排名第二的新加坡逼近。最令人嘖嘖稱奇的是，新加坡一向以政府強勢行政主導見稱，結果不但未有影響自由經濟排名，反而持續上升，足證維持自由經濟不在政府是否介入市場，而是如何介入。

前朝曾蔭權政府一直高舉所謂「大市場，小政府」的幌子，把無所作為發揮到極致。現屆政府聲稱「穩中求變，適度有為」，結果卻由一個極端走向另一個極端，推行政策往往圖政治方便討好民粹，即使收到短暫效果，也留下深遠後遺症，更予人「閉關鎖港」口實。表面上，限奶令讓市面奶粉供應恢復正常，但奶粉從此成為出口管制商品。至於以印花稅辣招控制樓價，只會加劇供應短缺，無助紓緩住宅單位中短期供求失衡問題。

All good things must come to an end. For 19 consecutive years, Hong Kong has topped the Index of Economic Freedom of America's Heritage Foundation. How much longer can Hong Kong be the laureate? With Hong Kong Government's enhanced intervention in the market and its multifarious new regulatory measures, the city's economic freedom has been seriously hampered. This, warned academics of US think tanks, will lead to Hong Kong's eventual removal from the throne of the freest economy.

The academia has cited 3 examples of market intervention: banning people from bringing baby milk formula out of Hong Kong, increasing the rate of ad valorem stamp duty, and introducing the statutory minimum wage. In fact, although Hong Kong is still number one on the free economy list, the runner-up Singapore has almost caught up. It is ironic that Singapore has always been known for its strong government-led administration, but this has not impacted on its economic freedom ranking which has been on the rise. It proves that government intervention in the market does not necessarily affect a free economy; the most important thing is how it intervenes.

In the guise of the so-called "big market, small government", the previous Donald Tsang government painted the very picture of "the art of doing nothing". The present administration claims that it would be "suitably proactive" and would "introduce change while maintaining stability", but it ends up swinging from one extreme to another. When policies are launched, the Government only aims to please the populists. This course of "short-term gain for long-term pain" invites the criticism that the metropolis is adopting a "close-door" policy. On the surface, the baby milk formula ban has normalized its supply in Hong Kong, but the product is now turned into a restricted commodity. As for the harsh measure of increasing stamp duty to rein in property price, the only result will be the intensification of supply shortage. The imbalance between the supply and demand of residential flats for both the short and medium terms will in no way be alleviated.

重要生字

omnipotent：萬能

all good things must come to an end：花無百日紅

laureate：桂冠詩人，榮譽得主