瑞士洛桑管理學院公布最新全球競爭力排行榜，香港排名再跌一級至第四位，而主要競爭對手新加坡則由第五名上升至第三名。香港競爭力國際排名由連續兩年全球第一跌至今年的第四，恰恰是香港日益沉淪的寫照。

報告指出，新加坡近年發展一枝獨秀，在經濟表現、企業效能及內部經濟結構等各方面皆有所提升。反觀香港不進反退，企業效能由去年第二位下跌至第三位，而內部經濟結構則徘徊於二十一名低位，反映香港無法擺脫經濟結構單調的掣肘，長此以往，勢必拖累整體競爭力繼續下滑。

洛桑學院建議香港增加土地供應、加強與內地經濟融合，以配合未來發展需要，可惜說時容易做時難，在泛政治化的社會氣氛裏，拓地建屋寸步難行，中港融合爭議多多，連個人遊政策也引起極大爭議，推動兩地經濟融合又談何容易？

旁觀者清，當局者迷，不管內地還是海外學術機構的報告，皆點出香港競爭力不斷下滑的癥結。對於這些問題，港府絕非一無所知，而是無力解決，在周邊地區蓬勃發展的今天，香港陷於政治泥沼不能自拔，既可悲，又無奈。

Fall in Rankings Troubling Hong Kong

International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland has released the World Competitiveness Rankings. Hong Kong again went down by a notch to the fourth place; while its close rival Singapore moved from ranking fifth to third. The World Competitiveness Ranking of Hong Kong slid to the fourth position this year after two consecutive years at the top. It may well be the portrayal of the gradually declining Hong Kong.

The World Competitiveness Yearbook Ranking shows that Singapore has stood out and advanced in various aspects such as Economic Performance, Business Efficiency and Infrastructure. Hong Kong, by contrast, has put into reverse – Business Efficiency dropped from last year’s second place to the third this year while Infrastructure has been hovering at the low level of the 21st. It shows that Hong Kong is being tied down by the unbalanced economic structure, which would certainly be a burden to its overall competitiveness in the long run.

Hong Kong should enhance land supply and the economic integration with mainland China in order to meet the future needs, suggested IMD. Unfortunately, it is easier said than done. Every step toward land reclamation land and development in an extensively politicized society is a stumble. It remains highly controversial as to the integration between Hong Kong and China as evidenced by the resistance to introducing the Individual Visit Scheme. The promotion of the economic partnership between mainland and Hong Kong is no easy matter.

As the Chinese saying goes, “Lookers-on see more than the players”, local and foreign institution reports generally reveal the perpetual decline of Hong Kong’s global competitiveness. The Hong Kong government is not unaware of the problem; it is simply incapable. Nowadays, the neighboring areas are prospering while Hong Kong is handcuffed by the game of politics. It is sad and helpless.

重要生字

in the long run 長此以往

stand out 一枝獨秀

is no easy matter 談何容易

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