Hong Kong's cross-strait direct transportation links anxiety

□ / Special Rapporteur Written by Sun Qin Mei (from Beijing)


Taiwan's five cross-strait weekend charter airline scheduling table the first week of June 19出炉. July 4th on the maiden voyage of the most popular weekly in 36 sorties, July 4 on the day of flying 18 sorties. After Taiwan's civil aviation sector coordination, the first day of the terminal is not only Taipei Sungshan, Taoyuan and Kaohsiung Kaohsiung, Taichung, Hualien and Penghu's Makung also an all-classes.
Prior to this temporary charter flight route via Hong Kong Flight Information Region. Under cross-strait charter flights reached by the two organizations weekend minutes of talks, the two sides agreed to open cross-strait negotiations as soon as possible direct route, where holders of valid travel documents of passengers from the cross-strait passenger charter flights can take. Cross-strait direct universal praise, but the Hong Kong shipping industry, "Shangtou minds", because once the cross-strait direct transportation links open, it will affect the long-term cross-strait intermediary as the interest of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong newspapers have a number of comments in a positive evaluation of the outcome of the two sessions, but also on cross-strait direct transportation links after Hong Kong's role Queqiao expressed concern, "the Oriental Daily News" pointed out that even in large headline: cross-strait direct transportation links "fighting Shen Hong Kong", the Hong Kong Government And the people made an urgent appeal. Some of the industry, in the days to assess cross-strait direct flights to Hong Kong aviation, tourism caused by the degree of impact.


Cross-boundary passenger and a sharp drop 60%
Part of Hong Kong's aviation and tourism have recently Xinjirufen, Beijing continued to suffer through the pipeline, including Li Ka-shing, such as Hong Kong's financial giants and politicians have come forward to express concern. For a variety of political factors across the Taiwan Strait caused by long-term barriers to cross-strait exchanges must be the people of Hong Kong or other third turn for the better, so this role as intermediaries in Hong Kong benefit from the very abundance. Once the realization of direct transportation links, not only the former interim leader is not also face the risk of playing Shen.
According to some sectors of the industry assessment, cross-strait direct flights to Hong Kong's status as a centre of causing significant operational impact of shipping enterprises is expected to bear the brunt of the Hong Kong and Macao in recent years into or transit of visitors from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau is about 4.4 million passengers, after direct flights to Hong Kong and Macao The visitors from Taiwan, fear will be reduced to 2.6 million passengers. In addition, the future of Hong Kong by mainland tourists did not travel directly to Taiwan, Hong Kong's tourism industry will not cause the loss of valuation.
Hong Kong Tourism Board released data show that cross-strait direct transportation links, Hong Kong's transit passengers will be mad Taiwan out 60% of Hong Kong to Taiwan every year at 2.38 million passengers, will be the loss of 1.5 million. Hong Kong Tourism Board has privately admitted that regular cross-strait direct transportation links, then Taiwan to Hong Kong business will swap 60 percent of passengers do.
Even so, but the industry is still confident. Hong Kong Ocean Park Chairman Allan Zeman said that cross-strait direct charter flights to Hong Kong will not affect the tourism industry. Taiwan passengers to Hong Kong, only for a short stay or transfer, as long as Hong Kong will continue to add new tourist attractions, can still maintain the number of visitors.
Hong Kong Airport Authority Chief Executive Officer Xu Hanzhong to have the same optimism. Although the short term will affect the fly via Hong Kong to the mainland and Taiwan, the number of visitors, but in the long run, I believe cross-strait direct transportation links could promote cross-strait three places closer economic, trade, social, and cultural exchanges will help boost regional trade And tourism activities, thus boosting the demand for aviation services.
Cross-strait weekend charter flights began only 18 flights a week, living the millions of Taiwan businessmen in mainland China, is still far from adequate, the demand is still much greater than supply. Hong Kong Travel Industry Council of Honorary Adviser Qi Yuan did not agree on all the concerns. Hong Kong people even think that the industry, will help promote direct cross-strait gradually Greater China economic and trade exchanges, "the pie bigger," always know how to Hong Kong since the alternative would be to find business opportunities.
The optimists will be reduced to the concerns of all sectors of the subjective speculation, the lack of objective data based on the in-depth and meticulous analysis. According to Citibank's latest report, after realizing the cross-strait direct transportation links, it is estimated that Hong Kong's tourism industry will reach 2.5 billion loss a year Hong Kong dollar, but only in 2008 in Hong Kong GDP 0.2% of tourism income, Hong Kong people is not unfounded, fear that Hong Kong Was "playing Shen."


Fertilizer Taiwan, Hong Kong lost »
Mainland Affairs Council in 2007 on cross-strait direct impact on the assessment results show that Taiwan's cross-strait direct transportation links will become the biggest winner, because of cross-strait direct shipping will be direct savings from 15 to 42 percent, Taiwan's GDP will thus increase 0.36 percent, while Hong Kong will become the biggest losers Hong Kong's GDP will thus reduce the 0.04 percent. Therefore, the mainland and Taiwan will become the winner in cross-strait direct transportation links, on cross-strait direct transportation links have positive impact on the economy, but Hong Kong, Korea, ASEAN countries Dengjie losers.
Although this assessment report is an exaggeration, but through the weekend cross-strait direct charter flights, Taiwan to the mainland's capital, visitors to Hong Kong pose a direct competition is a fact. Cross-strait direct transportation links, Taiwan will become the mainland's tourists, "the new darling."
From a comparative point of view, the economy of scale, Taiwan's GDP is twice the population of Hong Kong is more than three times cheaper land prices, business opportunities everywhere; On the appeal the mainland tourists, many mainland people have to Hong Kong, will look forward to the reunification has yet to reach the other side of an eye-opener. Hong Kong's dominant position in the cross-strait direct flights will no longer exist, in the face of Taiwan's economic development to catch up, thinking why Hong Kong must deal with Taiwan's competitiveness, the two sides since the changes in the.
The implementation of cross-strait weekend charter flights to Taiwan's aviation industry downturn堪称a dawn. Since the "1992 consensus" was shelved after the one-sided Taiwan, Taiwan's cross-strait direct aviation businesses wait nearly 16 years. Taiwan's unilateral loss of business opportunities, can not be, even nearly 10 years to estimate the volume of business alone, passenger and freight transport business aviation industry, Taiwan's Hong Kong and Macao follow the industry earned profits as high as 200 billion yuan NT. If coupled with the additional benefits, such as tourism, the Taiwan side on the total losses as high as NT trillion.
A Taiwan airline said in an interview with emotion that direct transportation links after this portion of the profits will naturally return to Long, Taiwan's shipping industry will find new, and thus for Taiwan tourism, catering industry bring new business opportunities, with On the contrary, Hong Kong will lose the benefit from this part of the intermediary, between Hong Kong and Taiwan's competitiveness in Cixiaobizhang trend.
Even so, Taiwan's competitiveness and enhance Hong Kong's status should not be forced to weaken exaggerated. Hong Kong has been known for the flexibility that can actively deal with the challenges, seize opportunities, thus realizing the cross-strait direct transportation links, Hong Kong's role is still very promising.
Hong Kong's tourism industry believe that mainland tourists will soon be "like new" Chung travel to Taiwan, but Taiwan and Hong Kong markets are different, after all, Hong Kong remains competitive in the long run.
Ma Ying-jeou has also called on the people of Hong Kong should not worry about cross-strait direct transportation links will have a negative impact on Hong Kong, it is not perceived as serious. For some people predicted, "once the cross-strait direct transportation links, Hong Kong will lose at least half of the business," Ma said, "This exaggeration," "Even the Hong Kong Government's own studies have not shown this point," Hong Kong is still Taiwan's major sea and air Transportation hub, direct flights will also increase cross-strait economic and trade activities in the three places and moved towards development.


The long term, deal with challenges
The impact of weekend charter flights by the Hong Kong aviation industry is preparing counterattack. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways said it had expected there would be direct business to a certain extent, but they will explore other routes - such as India - and increase revenue. This requires that Hong Kong must upgrade their appeal, and the strengthening of China's "southern gateway" role, because Hong Kong can attract more tourists to use its aviation hub transferred to overseas.
There are news, some airlines will be played in the recent price war banner, the weekend charter flights to reduce the impact on them. If the Hong Kong airline prices significantly, by virtue of its daily flights advantage of the weekend charter flights to a certain pressure of competition is not possible.
To feel the pressure of cross-strait direct transportation links, tourism in Hong Kong also made a positive response, strongly losses降至最低点. Hong Kong, Macao Tourism Bureau recently Mishang, to be launched "to the Hong Kong Progressive O" and "Macao to Hong Kong into" model, Liwan Taiwan passengers. Zhuhai and plans to cooperate with the mainland, "Hong Kong and Macao Twins" to redouble their power, including cooperation with the Guangdong Zhongshan City, former residence of Dr. Sun Yat-sen launched, such as "patriotism card" tour, trying to keep Taiwan this "Golden Rooster mother."
Hong Kong Tourism Board will take determined measures to open up a variety of new Taiwan tourists, including to cities such as Kaohsiung and Taichung for promotion, publicity for college students directly to Shanghai and the Pearl River Delta region win over Taiwan businessmen and their families in Hong Kong tourism, and strengthening Publicity cruise tourism. At the same time, the council set up with the industry to Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, "a multi-station" mode of travel, expectations of mainland tourists to Taiwan, while will be to Hong Kong.
And maintain and enhance Hong Kong's international financial and trade centre, on the edge of losing transit Hong Kong, particularly important. Hong Kong as a service platform has obvious advantages, particularly performance in the free flow of capital, sound and transparent legal system, world-class financial services, and comprehensive professional value-added and trade support services, in addition to aviation, tourism, but also in Hong Kong Finance, trade, arbitration services and so on strengthening advantages make up for the cross-strait direct transportation links after the disappearance of the plate.
Some observers believe that in the financial sector, when the two sides to each other enterprise development, will emerge successful, mature enterprises, Hong Kong can use its international financial centre to attract them to the advantages of listing in Hong Kong to promote the development of Hong Kong financial services industry. In arbitration services, with increasingly frequent cross-strait economic and trade activities, an inevitable increase in commercial disputes, mediation and arbitration services to the growing demand, the use of its convergence with the international legal system, Hong Kong enterprises to cross-strait disputes can provide a neutral and reliable Arbitration services.
Source: 2008 No. 19 of section 296 of fresh news