政壇：睇社論學英文：經濟自由不足恃 競爭力退最堪憂

廉潔與法治一向是香港的金漆招牌，也是香港賴以成功的基石。可惜經過前朝政府七年之禍，前特首曾蔭權、前廉政專員湯顯明及前政務司司長全部捲入貪腐醜聞，不僅損害核心價值，亦拖累經濟自由度評分。

說到底，評估一個經濟體的活力及潛力，關鍵不是經濟自由度，而是競爭力。香港年年捧回最自由經濟體桂冠，而各類競爭力排名卻拾級而下。最諷刺的是，經濟增長一枝獨秀的中國，經濟自由度排名長期在百名之外，可見經濟自由並非靈丹妙藥。事實上，亞洲金融風暴及全球金融海嘯後，世界各國紛紛放棄自由經濟教條，轉而加強干預，連鼓吹自由經濟最不遺餘力的美國也不例外。

窮則思，思則變，變則通。港府要打破對自由市場的迷思，該出手時就出手，不管白貓黑貓，捉到老鼠就是好貓，不管是自由還是干預，只要是能提高競爭力的就是好政策。

Instead of boasting about being the freest economy, Hong Kong should worry about its declining competitiveness

For 20 consecutive years, Hong Kong has been rated as the world's freest economy. But this year, the gap in score between Hong Kong and the runner-up Singapore is further narrowed to 0.7 points. The worst thing is that Hong Kong has descended sharply on the scale of “perceived corruption”, to the 13th of the least corrupt regimes in the world. On the contrary, Singapore's score in every category has risen. While Hong Kong's comprehensive competitiveness has already fallen behind that of Singapore, now our city is even on the verge of losing its laureate of the freest economy.

Honest and clean government as well as the rule of law have always been the halo of Hong Kong. They are the cornerstones whereon the city's success relies. Unfortunately, under the poor 7-year ruling of the previous government, former Chief Executive Donald Tsang, former head of Independent Commission Against Corruption Timothy Tong and former Chief Secretary for Administration have all been drawn into corruption scandals. This has not only undermined Hong Kong's core value, but has also implicated its score in economic freedom.

In the final analysis, the vitality and potential of an economy do not hinge on its economic freedom, but competitiveness. Hong Kong has been hailed as the freest economy every year, but its rankings in all categories of competitiveness kept on falling. The most ironic is that China has always ranked lower than 100th in its economic freedom, yet its economic growth is unrivaled, demonstrating that economic freedom is not a panacea. In fact, after the Asian financial crisis and global financial tsunami, many governments in the world have given up the doctrine of free economy and stepped up their intervention. Even the United States, which has been sparing no effort in advocating free economy, is no exception.

Plight gives rise to a desire for change, and change will bring new opportunities. To explode the myth of free economy, the Hong Kong government should intervene in the economy when it is time to do so. As the Chinese saying goes, “No matter whether a cat is black or white, it is a good cat as long as it can catch mice.” By the same token, no matter whether it is freedom or intervention, it is a good policy as long as it can enhance competitiveness.

重要生字

panacea 靈丹妙藥

spare no effort in 不遺餘力

explode the myth 打破迷思