香港素有「購物天堂」美譽，商品齊全，價廉物美，吸引全球旅客。然而時移勢易，不少香港人反過來跑去外國掃貨，果真是風水輪流轉。

由於最近日本、澳洲等地匯率大跌，加上退稅機制，不少國際名牌商品價格較零關稅的香港更便宜。有零售商反映，現時日本的名牌商品售價普遍比香港便宜一成，不僅刺激港人赴日旅行購物，更吸引不少行家轉往當地入貨。

當然，香港物價愈來愈貴，除了受匯率影響，最根本的原因是租金成本不斷上漲。研究顯示，香港去年第四季繼續成為全球最貴舖租地區，平均呎租達二千八百零一元，比排名第二的美國紐約貴三成，比第三位的法國巴黎貴兩倍。事實上，隨着美元逐漸轉強，其他國家貨幣勢必進一步轉弱，商品價格優勢日益明顯。反觀香港租金節節上升，除了名牌貨品售價高於外地，小商戶經營更加困難。

事實證明，高地價、高樓價、高租金已成為零售業以至整體經濟的最大危機，加上社會泛政治化，這些問題得不到有效解決，香港根本沒有前途可言。

As the halo of "shopper's paradise" fades, Hong Kong is doomed to fall behind

With all sorts of quality goods available at attractive prices, Hong Kong has long been hailed as a "shoppers' paradise" and has attracted visitors from all over the world. However, as the wheel of Fortune turns, now many Hong Kong people are going abroad for their shopping spree.

Recently, the exchange rates of Japanese and Australian currencies have dropped significantly. As visitors can enjoy tax rebates in these countries, they can buy international designer brands at a lower price than in the zero-tariff Hong Kong. Some retailers have pointed out that the brand-name goods in Japan are now 10% cheaper than those in our city. This has not only stimulated Hong Kongers to go shopping in Japan, but has also attracted buyers to acquire their stocks there.

The skyrocketing of commodity prices in Hong Kong is not merely the result of exchange rate. The root of the problem actually lies in the ever-increasing rental cost. A study last year shows that, for the fourth quarter in a row, the shops in Hong Kong are paying the highest rents in the world. With an average rate of $2,801 per square foot, the shop rental in Hong Kong is 30% higher than the runner-up city New York, and two times higher than Paris which is in the third place. While the American dollar is gradually growing stronger, the currencies of other countries will weaken further and the advantages of their commodity prices will be enhanced. On the contrary, the incessant rise of rents in Hong Kong has not only made its brand-name goods more expensive than other cities, but has also rendered the operation of small businesses more difficult.

High land price, high property price and high rental have boiled down into the greatest crisis faced by the retail sector and even our whole economy. With the pan-politicization of society, Hong Kong will not have a future if these problems are not solved effectively.

重要生字

shopping spree 掃貨

the wheel of Fortune turns 風水輪流轉

brand-name goods 名牌貨品

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