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■候任行政長官梁振英在政綱提出，一旦樓市過熱，會研究推出「港人港地」政策。 資料圖片
身兼行政會議成員及房委會資助房屋小組委員會主席的張炳良重提去年的建議，認為政府可以研究限制境外買家購買本地物業。事實上，本港樓價持續上升，供求失衡，適當限制境外買家來港買樓有其必要，但不宜一刀切。香港作為國際金融中心和外向型經濟體系，在考慮對境外人士採取投資限制時，必須小心衡量後果。當局的限制措施應劃定範圍，目的應該是協助入息高於申請居屋限額、但在私人市場置業有困難的香港居民。
候任行政長官梁振英在政綱提出，一旦樓市過熱，會研究推出「港人港地」政策，選擇合適土地，在售地條款中，規定建成後的住宅單位只可售予香港居民，以協助入息高於申請居屋限額的香港居民置業。
世界上不少地方有限制外地人置業，有的是直接規限資格，有的是徵收特別稅項。北京及上海已推出限購措施，新加坡及澳洲也有限制境外人士投資置業。但不少地方不是一刀切式的限制，而是按實際情況和樓價起伏推出。下屆政府對「港人港地」宜推出先導計劃，再檢討計劃的影響，注意避免對樓價造成過大衝擊，同時小心衡量對本港自由港地位的影響。
Restrictions on foreign homebuyers should not be applied across the board
Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of the Subsidized Housing Committee of the Housing Authority Mr Cheung Ping-leung once again brought up the suggestion made last year, and opined that the government could study imposing restrictions on local property purchase by homebuyers from outside Hong Kong. In fact, property price in Hong Kong has continued to rise; supply and demand in the market is not in equilibrium. It is necessary to put suitable restrictions on outside buyers who wish to purchase property in Hong Kong; however, any such restrictions should not be applied across the board. As Hong Kong is an international financial centre and an open economy, the consequences of putting restrictions on foreign investors must be carefully weighed. The authorities should clearly define the scope of the restriction, aiming at assisting those Hong Kong residents whose income exceeds the limits for application for a Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flat but is not good enough for buying a property in the private market.
Chief Executive-designate Mr Leung Chun-ying stated in his election platform that he would study the introduction of a "Hong Kong land for Hong Kong residents" policy should the property market become overheated. According to his platform, suitable sites will be selected and the conditions of land sales will specify that residential units built on such land can only be sold to residents of Hong Kong. This is to help those Hong Kong residents whose income exceeds the limits for HOS application to purchase a flat.
There exist in many parts of the world restrictions on property purchase by foreigners. Some places restrict the eligibility of foreigners outright. Others put a special levy on their purchase. Beijing and Shanghai have already introduced limitation on property purchase. Singapore and Australia have also imposed restrictions on foreigners from investing in property. However, restrictions in many places are not across-the-board; control measures are only implemented according to the actual situation and the fluctuation of the property market.
The incoming government should first run a pilot scheme for the "Hong Kong land for Hong Kong residents" policy and assess the effect of the scheme. Care should be taken to avoid creating too great an impact on property price, and at the same time the effect of such a policy on the free port status of Hong Kong should also be carefully weighed. ■Translation by 東明 tungming23@gmail.com
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