2018年商业信心调查（英文版）-1mb

报告摘要

AmCham Hong Kong 2018 Business Sentiment Survey Summary

Core Content

The AmCham Hong Kong 2018 Business Sentiment Survey is the first in a new annual series aimed at understanding the concerns, hopes, and expectations of Hong Kong's international business community. Conducted in partnership with Ipsos Business Consulting, the survey provides insights into how businesses perceive Hong Kong's competitiveness, its role in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), and the challenges it faces in the innovation economy.

Main Findings

1. Hong Kong's Competitive Position

70% of respondents believe Hong Kong retains its core attraction as a global business hub, citing its deep pool of world-class professional services and connectivity to China and other Asian markets.
Government transparency, rule of law, and free flow of information are seen as the most important factors for maintaining Hong Kong's status as an international business center.
Business-friendly policies, including a low tax regime, are also critical.
Talent availability is a close second to these factors.
Only 2% of respondents felt Hong Kong was insufficiently competitive against other Asian world cities, while 47% saw it as strongly competitive.
Operating costs were not a major concern, with 18 out of 20 respondents believing Hong Kong offers attractive lifestyle options compared to other major cities.

2. Concerns Over Governance

A recurrent theme was the importance of Hong Kong's values such as openness, rule of law, and free and fair markets.
Over 50% of respondents believed that the "One Country, Two Systems" principle and the rule of law have been eroded.
60% of respondents identified red tape and bureaucracy as the biggest obstacle to Hong Kong's success in the smart city race, with 33% citing uncertainties over China's laws.
Some members expressed concern that political tensions could undermine Hong Kong's global standing, and China needs to reaffirm Hong Kong's strengths.

3. Greater Bay Area (GBA)

70% of respondents were positive about the impact on revenue from operating in the GBA, with over a quarter being very optimistic.
More than half of the respondents already had an office presence in the GBA outside of Hong Kong.
Only 14% of respondents said their companies had plans to expand in the GBA.
The main attractions of GBA expansion included the large consumer base (67 million people) and the opportunity to target other markets.
Hong Kong's connectivity to the GBA was viewed as a major advantage.
Challenges included lack of transparency, policy uncertainty, market access barriers, complex and expensive taxes, rivalry between GBA cities, talent shortages, and cultural differences between Hong Kong and Guangdong.

4. Innovation Economy

37% of respondents believed technology and innovation would be transformative for their companies.
26% ranked technology and innovation in their top three priorities, but did not expect them to be transformative.
Members saw opportunities for business development, operational efficiency, and improved customer services through innovation.
However, they were not optimistic about the government's focus on infrastructure contracts as a driver of growth.
Education and talent shortages were cited as the biggest challenges to building a smart city.
There is a lack of a "fail and learn" culture and sectoral skill gaps, particularly in growth areas like cybersecurity.
Many respondents were looking to tap into a cheaper talent pool within the GBA.

Key Information

Survey Methodology

Conducted between March 10 and May 11, 2018.
230 valid responses were collected from 1,380 invited members.
The survey aimed to provide a new benchmark for understanding business sentiment in Hong Kong.

Respondent Demographics

Over 50% of respondents were from U.S. companies.
36% represented Asian companies, with 90% being Hong Kong-based.
12% were from EU companies.
The largest groups were in education, banking/financial services, apparel, management consulting, logistics, and IT-related services.

Conclusion

The survey highlights Hong Kong's enduring appeal as a global business hub, driven by its professional services, connectivity, and open society. However, it also underscores governance concerns, particularly around transparency, rule of law, and bureaucracy, which are seen as potential threats to its long-term competitiveness. The GBA is viewed as a strategic opportunity, but implementation challenges remain. Innovation is seen as a key driver, though skill shortages and cultural differences pose significant hurdles. Overall, the survey suggests that while Hong Kong has many strengths, it must continue to adapt and evolve to maintain its position in the global economy.