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■商務及經濟發展局局長蘇錦樑指港將就與東盟締結自貿協定展開談判。圖為他在東盟領袖論壇擔任主講嘉賓的情況。 資料圖片
正在緬甸出席東盟領袖論壇的商務及經濟發展局局長蘇錦樑表示，在中央政府支持下，香港已得到東盟的同意，在短期內就「東盟－香港自由貿易協定」展開正式談判。香港與東盟締結自貿協定，可促進兩地貿易和投資流動，有助香港融入地區貿易，為香港商界創造新機遇，並推動長遠經濟增長。
據貿發局今年3月19日發表的報告指出，東盟總人口超過6.1億人，整體生產總值超過2.3萬億美元，過去10年的平均增長約6%。2013年，東盟在出口表現較為疲弱的環境下，憑着私人消費及政府開支增長強勁，實質經濟增長預料仍然達到4.9%。亞洲發展銀行預期，2014年東盟的經濟增長會進一步加快至5.3%。
東盟十國整體是香港第二大貨物貿易夥伴及第四大服務貿易夥伴，是全世界最重要的經濟圈之一，涉及的經濟體數量和人口總數，可與歐盟相提並論。如有關談判成功，有助香港融入地區貿易，將給香港帶來更多機遇，不單有助企業家專注於實質的市場機遇，亦能提供穩定且具透明度的框架，讓工商業蓬勃發展。自由貿易協定所帶來的互補性及協同效應，將有助為東盟和香港創造更多機遇。
ASEAN - Hong Kong free trade talk creates new opportunities
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development So Kam-leung who was in Myanmar to attend the ASEAN Leadership Forum said that with the support of the central government, Hong Kong has agreed with ASEAN on starting shortly the formal negotiations on the ASEAN - Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement. The free trade agreement between Hong Kong and ASEAN will facilitate trade and investment activities between the two signatories and help Hong Kong penetrate into the regional trade bloc. This can open up new opportunities to businesses in Hong Kong and also boost long term economic growth.
According to a report published by the Trade Development Council on 19 March this year, ASEAN has a total population of more than 610,000,000, an overall GDP of more than US$2,300 billion, as well as an average growth of 6% per annum over the past 10 years. It is estimated that ASEAN, despite a relatively weak performance in export, can still sustain a real economic growth of 4.9% in 2013 due to strong growth in personal consumption and government expenditure. The Asian Development Bank anticipates the economic growth in ASEAN to speed up to 5.3% in 2014.
ASEAN, which comprises 10 member countries, is Hong Kong's second largest trading partner in goods and the fourth largest trading partner in services. ASEAN is one of the most important economic regions in the world, with a total number of economies and total population comparable to those of the EU. If the trade talk is successful, Hong Kong can integrate into the regional trade bloc, which can bring a lot more opportunities to Hong Kong. This will not only help entrepreneurs to focus on genuine market opportunities in the region but also provide a stable and transparent framework for industry and commerce to flourish. The free trade agreement should bring complementary effects and synergies that will help ASEAN and also Hong Kong to create more opportunities.■Translation by Tung-ming [ tungming23@gmail.com ]（節自香港《文匯報》2014年5月13日）
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