現屆政府上場後推出多輪冷卻樓市措施，至今一年多，雖然交投轉趨淡靜，但樓價依然居高不下，顯示辣招只能暫時阻遏樓價升勢。由於雙辣招以「先訂立，後審議」方式實施，立法程序尚未完成，可惜立法進展緩慢，至今不但通過無期，更因為觸動既得利益集團，有議員要求港府減辣，甚至撤辣。
可以看到，雙辣招實施一年多以來，樓價持續在高位徘徊，加上發展商以回贈印花稅等優惠推盤，排隊買樓人龍復現，樓市又告蠢蠢欲動。事實上，影響本港樓市因素，除了市民的剛性置業需求，還包括美國退市無期，人民幣不斷升值等，抵銷辣招效應。
樓市尾大不掉，前特首曾蔭權爵士是罪魁禍首，他任內拒絕恢復賣地紓緩房屋用地不足，為樓市狂升提升助燃劑。其實早在貪曾在位時，中央官員已三番四次警告，港澳辦主任王光亞訪港時公開指出，房屋問題處理不當，將會演化成政治問題，敦促港府推出措施解決市民住房困難。可惜貪曾將這番警告當耳邊風，繼續不作為，埋下管治地雷。現屆政府要收拾樓市亂局，就不能朝令夕改，辣招必須堅持推行下去，絕不能半途而廢。
It is difficult to get rid of deep-rooted property problems planted by the former government
After coming into office, the present government has launched several rounds of measures to cool down the property market. Such measures have now been in place for more than a year, but property prices still remain high despite the slackening of transactions. The cooling measures evidently can only temporarily avert the rising trend of property prices. As the implementation of Special Stamp Duty and Buyer Stamp Duty has to undergo negative vetting at the Legislative Council, the scrutiny is still lingering on. Unfortunately, this legislative process has been so slow that no one knows when the new Stamp Duties will go into effect. Moreover, as the consortia with vested interest may stand to lose, some lawmakers are asking the government to water down or even rescind the measures.
Property prices have yet to decrease since the introduction over a year ago of the cooling measures. Certain real estate developers now sell their new developments with the promise of rebating buyers for the Stamp Duty they pay. Once again, people are queuing up to buy flats and the property market seems to be poised for take-off. In fact, the factors affecting Hong Kong’s property market are many. Other than the people’s real need for homes, the indefinite withdrawal of the United States from the market and the incessant appreciation of renminbi both play a role to offset the effect of the cooling measures.
The culprit of the present situation in the property market is actually the former Chief Executive, Sir Donald Tsang. His refusal to restore land sale for relieving housing supply shortage has added fuel to the fire of the skyrocketing property price. When Tsang the Greedy was holding office, officials of the Central Government had already repeatedly sent out warnings. During his visit to Hong Kong, the Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Office Wang Guang-ya said publicly that a mishandling of the housing problem would turn it into a political issue, and he urged the Hong Kong government to come up with solutions. Unfortunately, the warning fell on deaf ears and Tsang the Greedy continued with his “omission”, planting a governance landmine. If the current government is to put the chaotic property market in order, it should not constantly make changes in policy. The cooling measures must be carried through to the end and not be abandoned halfway.
重要生字
fall on deaf ears 被當作耳邊風
carry through to the end 堅持推行下去
abandon halfway 半途而廢
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