(Year-end special) Hong Kong｜Economic winter is over, dawn is coming

　　China News Agency, Hong Kong, December 27 (Reporter Wei Huadu Liu Chenyao) In 2022, the impact of the new crown epidemic and the external environment will remain. In some people's eyes, Hong Kong's economic performance is not satisfactory.

However, people from all walks of life in Hong Kong refuse to "lie down", and the road to normalcy is difficult, but they are getting more and more courageous. As the "customs clearance" approaches, the dawn of Hong Kong's economy is gradually emerging.

　　Hong Kong's economic winter is over

　　Judging from the data, Hong Kong's economy will bottom out once in 2022.

Since the beginning of this year, the Hong Kong SAR government has repeatedly lowered its annual GDP growth forecast from 2% to 3.5% to minus 3.2%, and it is expected to record a fiscal deficit of more than 100 billion Hong Kong dollars.

The data picture shows Hong Kong Central, where there are many financial institutions.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Wei

　　Wu Lixian, a securities strategist at China Everbright Securities International Co., Ltd. analyzed this, saying that Hong Kong is an export-oriented economy, and mainland China has implemented blockade measures due to the epidemic and weakened external demand, which has reduced the export of goods from the mainland through Hong Kong; Interest rates are also constantly impacting Hong Kong's investment environment.

This momentum will make Hong Kong's economy still face challenges in the first quarter of next year, but Wu Lixian believes that the slowdown of foreign interest rate hikes in the second half of 2023, the stabilization of the mainland economy and the relaxation of epidemic prevention measures will bring good news to Hong Kong.

　　In fact, the bonus has been delivered in the last days of 2022 ahead of schedule.

On the evening of December 26, the Joint Defense and Control Mechanism of the State Council released the "Overall Plan for the Implementation of "Class B and B Management" for Novel Coronavirus Infection". The plan proposes to cancel the nucleic acid testing and centralized isolation of all staff after entry.

This means that Hong Kong is about to achieve "customs clearance" with the mainland.

　　Zhuang Tailiang, executive director of the Lau Chor-teh Institute of Global Economics and Finance at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said in an interview with a reporter from China News Agency: "With the recent reopening of the mainland, the flow of people between the two places will drive up Hong Kong's retail industry, tourism and shop rents. It is estimated that Hong Kong's annual GDP will grow by 5% next year."

　　Returning to the world stage with grand events

　　The economic forecast for the whole year is hardly optimistic. The Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Chen Maobo, once said that as long as the epidemic continues to be controlled and external activities resume further, it is expected to support the gradual strengthening of the future economic recovery.

In 2022, Hong Kong will do just that.

On November 6th, the last day of the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens was held. In the end, Australia beat Fiji to win the championship.

The picture shows the moment of Australia's victory in the final, and the players celebrate each other.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Li Zhihua

　　Since the epidemic gradually stabilized in the second half of the year, "returning to normal" was put on the agenda, and the epidemic prevention measures for entry were gradually relaxed, and the restoration of connectivity with the outside world became the top priority.

Since the end of August, the "Belt and Road" Summit Forum, Hong Kong Fintech Week, International Financial Leaders Investment Summit, International Rugby Sevens, and a number of Greater Bay Area Financial Forums have been held one after another, bringing Hong Kong back into the international spotlight.

　　At the International Financial Leaders Investment Summit in early November, Lee Ka-chao, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, conveyed the message that "Hong Kong has returned to normal" to more than 200 foreign guests, and received positive responses.

International financial giants said at the meeting that Hong Kong is still a very important international financial center. Many foreign companies are preparing to increase investment in Asia and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Hong Kong will serve as a "super contact" to provide assistance.

　　What followed was the International Rugby Sevens, an international sports event after an absence of three years, which attracted more than 65,000 people in just three days, many of whom were foreign tourists from afar.

　　Zhu Jiajian, a Hong Kong special member of the National Association for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, believes that foreign guests come from afar, which shows their confidence and affirmation of Hong Kong's economic recovery, and also proves that Hong Kong is attractive to international investors.

　　Grasping opportunities in the Mainland for innovation

　　Looking forward to 2023, Hong Kong is preparing to take off again while accelerating its return to normal.

　　"The biggest opportunity for global development in 2023 is in China, and the biggest opportunity for Hong Kong's development is in the mainland." Cai Guanshen, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, believes that Hong Kong's economic advantage lies in being backed by the motherland. The advantages remain unchanged. I believe that after the customs clearance with the Mainland, Hong Kong's economy will soon regain its vitality.

　　Cai Guanshen's confidence comes from the many new policies issued by Hong Kong this year.

For example, the Qianhai Administration of Shenzhen Municipality and the Treasury Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government jointly issued the "Eighteen Measures" in early September, including the establishment of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Venture Capital Cluster and the convenience of two-way cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong for cross-border investment.

He believes that the governments of the two places support the development of private equity and venture capital funds. The innovative and breakthrough mechanism will not only promote the cooperation between Hong Kong and Qianhai in financial technology, but also help to form an agglomeration effect and promote the cross-border flow of innovative capital to form a scale effect. .

　　"All kinds of measures are believed to further attract funds interested in investing in the mainland to use Hong Kong as their base, open up the capital circulation network between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, guide funds from all directions to invest in the innovation and technology industry in the Greater Bay Area, and allow financial services to serve the real economy." Cai Guanshen said. Say.

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