香港的国际枢纽功能主要体现在哪些方面「决策者香港的国际枢纽功能是立身之本」

Editor's note: Decision Makers is a global platform for decision makers to share their insights on events shaping today's world. Stephen Phillips is director-general of investment promotion at Invest Hong Kong. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The year 2022 marks an important milestone for Hong Kong as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). As we look back, there are plenty of economic achievements that we should be proud of, and as we look forward, we see a bright future ahead thanks to our strong ties with our country's economy.

2022年是香港特区成立25周年，也是香港发展的重要里程碑。回首往昔，我们为香港取得的经济成就感到自豪；展望未来，受益于国家经济发展大局，这座城市的前途必将更加光明。

Let us first look at some of the milestones.Since 1997, Hong Kong's per capita GDP grew by 2.2 percent per annum in real terms, reaching $49,800 in 2021. Total merchandise trade value surged from HK$3,071 billion ($391.34 billion) in 1997 to HK$10,268 billion ($1,308.45 billion) in 2021, up by 234 percent. The total stock market capitalization rose from HK$3.2 trillion ($0.41 trillion) in 1997 to HK$42.4 trillion ($5.4 trillion) in 2021. Meanwhile, the number of listed companies rose from 658 to 2572. The average daily turnover of the securities market went up from HK$15.5 billion ($1.98 billion) in 1997 to HK$166.7 billion ($21.24 billion) in 2021. Hong Kong ranks third in the latest Global Financial Centers Index.

让我们首先回顾香港发展过程中的重要里程碑。自1997年以来，香港的人均实际GDP年均增速为2.2%，在2021年达到38.7万港元。商品贸易总额从1997年的30710亿港元猛增至2021年的102,680亿港元，增长了234%。股市总市值从1997年底的3.2万亿港元增至2021年底的42.4万亿港元。与此同时，上市公司数量由658家增至2572家。证券市场日均成交额从1997年的155亿港元上升至2021年的1667亿港元。香港在最新的全球金融中心指数中排名第三。

For these reasons and many more, Hong Kong is a leading international business hub. Throughout Hong Kong's history, global status helped our economy grow and diversify, and this is more relevant today than ever as we are playing an increasingly key role in our country's continuous economic advancement. At the same time, this also helps us to attract foreign investment from around the world.

受众多有利因素推动，香港已成为全球领先的国际商业中心。纵观香港历史，这座城市的国际地位有助于我们实现经济增长和多元化，这一点在今天比以往任何时候都更加重要，因为香港在国家经济的持续发展中发挥着越来越重要的作用。与此同时，这也有助于我们吸引来自世界各地的投资。

As two of our annual surveys show, 9049 overseas and mainland companies in all sizes and sectors were operating in Hong Kong in 2021, and our city has 3755 startups, 28 percent of which are from outside of Hong Kong. This is a strong testament to our global appeal – both at record levels.

我们的两项年度调查显示，2021年有9049家不同规模和行业的海外及内地公司在香港运营。此外香港还有3755家初创企业，其中28%来自香港以外的地区。这两项指标均达到创纪录的水平，有力地证明了我们的全球吸引力。

We have earned this on our solid foundations of enduring advantages including an ideal geographical location in Asia, a free market mechanism, including free flow of capital and people, the rule of law, our internationally-minded talent pool, plus unrivalled connection with the rest of the business world and more.

我们在亚洲有理想的地理位置、自由的市场体制（包括资本和人员的自由流动）、法治、具有国际视野的高素质人才储备，以及与其他商贸区域联系紧密等长期优势，这些都是我们取得上述成就的坚实基础。

But the future is brighter still. With this, Hong Kong is well positioned to benefit from the country's dual-circulation economic development model. On the one hand, many foreign companies leverage Hong Kong platform to access the growing domestic demand of Chinese mainland. On the other hand, mainland companies make use of Hong Kong to connect with the rest of the world tapping opportunities from the external demand.

我相信前路同样将更加光明。坐拥上述优势的香港完全有能力从国家的“双循环”经济发展模式中获益。一方面，许多外国公司利用香港这一门户，进入内需日益增长的内地市场。另一方面，内地企业利用香港与世界其他地区的联系，从外部需求中寻求机会。

A sailboat with celebratory posters marking the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland sails at the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, south China, June 23, 2022. /Xinhua

For inward investment, the Greater Bay Area (GBA) offers a market of scale, depth and breadth to multinationals and startups based in Hong Kong. A veritable magnet for inbound investment and an opportunity that I say to businesses around the world is too significant to ignore. In fact, as Invest Hong Kong's portfolio show, over 50 percent of companies we assisted in 2021 indicated to us that GBA development is one of the main reasons why they are investing in Hong Kong.

对外资而言，粤港澳大湾区为香港的跨国公司和初创企业提供了一个规模体量大、兼具深度和广度的市场。大湾区是一个名副其实的吸引外资的“磁铁”，我对世界各地的企业说，这是一个不容忽视的重大机会。事实上，正如香港投资推广署的业务构成所示，在我们2021年协助的公司中，超过50%的公司向我们表示大湾区的发展是他们投资香港的主要原因之一。

However, this is just one dimension of GBA. Just as important is the outbound trade and investment from GBA to Hong Kong and beyond, which drives many new commercial opportunities too. What is more, this is all set to be "turbo-charged" by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

然而，这只是大湾区的作用之一。同样，大湾区对香港及其他地区的外贸与投资也会带来许多新的商机。更重要的是, 《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》的签订将强力助推香港与内地的双向经贸往来。

In an ever more complex world, I have no doubt that Hong Kong's role and relevance is global and this will continue. Our precise role is unique to every business. Crucially, the job of my colleagues and I is to help companies formulate the right strategy and plans. I am confident too that Hong Kong's ability to adapt will remain one of its greatest strengths. And I think we are witnessing one of those significant transitions now: from a role at the center of East-West trade and investment, to one that is increasingly about trade and investment flows intra-Asia and hence more north-south.

在这个日益复杂的世界里，我毫不怀疑香港的作用和意义是全球性的，这一定位将继续保持下去。我们在与不同企业合作时，发挥着不同的作用。关键在于，我与我的同事们一道，帮助企业制定正确的战略和计划。我也相信，香港的适应能力仍将是其最大优势之一。我认为我们正在见证香港的重大转变：过去香港是东西方贸易和投资的中心，如今香港日益成为亚洲内部、以及亚洲南北向贸易和投资的枢纽。

We have undoubtedly been through a turbulent and challenging period, but throughout my views and confidence have remained resolutely upbeat. At risk of being clichéd, for businesses to thrive, it is important to cut through the noise, to see the wood for the trees. Businesses invest on factual information and informed analysis, not headlines.

我们无疑经历了一个动荡和充满挑战的时期，但在整个过程中，我始终信念坚定、积极乐观。这里我再老调重弹一下：企业要发展好，关键是要排除杂音干扰，透过现象看本质。企业投资要基于事实信息和深度分析，而不是跟风炒作。

Myself, my colleagues in Hong Kong headquarters and 31 offices across major mainland and overseas cities communicate on a daily basis with executives in Hong Kong and in different parts of the world, telling them the true Hong Kong story, our strengths, our unique market position in terms of the GBA as well as our Asian connections.

我本人、香港总部的同事以及分布在内地及海外主要城市的31个办事处，每天都与香港和世界不同地区的高管进行交流，向他们讲述真实的香港故事、我们的优势、我们在大湾区中的独特市场地位，以及我们与亚洲各地的联系。

So, as we celebrate Hong Kong's 25th anniversary, we look forward to celebrating even more successes in the years to come. My colleagues and I around the world and across our country look forward to helping even more businesses and entrepreneurs, to make good use of our global role and be part of the country's economic growth. Without a doubt our future will be brighter than ever.

因此，在庆祝香港回归25周年之际，我们期待在未来能够取得更大的成功。我与海内外同事期待能够帮助更多的企业和企业家，充分利用香港的国际地位，为中国的经济增长贡献力量。我们的未来肯定会更加美好！