2003年财政预算案演辞.DOC

二ＯＯ三至Ｏ四年度政府財政預算案 The 2003-04 Budget 主席女士： Madam President, 引言 Introduction 我謹動議二讀二ＯＯ三年撥款條例草案。 I move that the Appropriation Bill 2003 be read a second time. 2. 狄更斯有名句：「這是最好的時候，這是最壞的時候。」1這句話對今天的香港來說十分貼切。放眼世界，中東戰雲密布，局勢動盪。在本港，失業率持續高企，打工仔憂慮「飯碗」朝不保夕，加上負資產所帶來的心理及實質影響，正壓抑消費及投資意欲。市民大眾對經濟前景信心低落，對政府有所不滿，可以說是最壞的時候。另一方面，國家經濟正高速增長，是全球必爭的市場。香港作為國家及區內最國際化的商業城市，擁有地利及制度優勢。香港在過去五年，雖經歷經濟轉型，但營商成本下降，競爭力逐步增加，貨物及服務出口亦恢復增長，旅遊業持續暢旺。市民明白轉變乃大勢所趨，「窮則變、變則通」，整裝待發，重新上路，現在可以說是最好的時候。 1 摘自狄更斯《雙城記》。 2. Charles Dickens once wrote, It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.1 This phrase is an apt description of Hong Kongs present situation. The world, with war imminent in the Middle East, faces major uncertainties. In Hong Kong, the unemployment rate persists at a high level, and job losses remain a worry. The psychological and material impacts of negative equity have suppressed demand for consumption and investment. The public has yet to recover its confidence in the future of our economy and vents its dissatisfaction at the Government. It is, if you will, the worst of times. In contrast, the Mainlands economy is growing rapidly, and investors worldwide compete for a share in her markets. Hong Kong, as the most cosmopolitan commercial city in China and the region, possesses geographical and institutional advantages. As the economy has been restructuring over the past five years, Hong Kong has seen a substantial reduction in the cost of doing business, and this has enhanced our competitiveness. Exports of goods and services again show growth, and tourism continues to flourish. Our citizens have gradually come to realise the inevitability of change. As the Chinese saying goes, from need to change, from change to solution. To renew our strengths and set a new course, this could well be the best of times. 1 Extracted from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. 3. 在這樣的背景下編製今年的財政預算案，對我個人來說，不無掙扎。要平衡預算，並不單是平衡一堆數字，而是數字背後所代表的各方利益。要節流，就難免影響公務員同事，亦免不了要調校市民大眾對政府服務的期望。要開源，就難免加重市民負