(香港，2024年2月28日) 就財政司司長於今天 (2月28日) 發表之2024-25年度《財政預算案》，香港工程師學會 (下稱「學會」) 歡迎政府採納學會早前向政府提交的部份建議，有助香港抓緊機遇，促進高質量發展。學會對今次的財政預算案，有以下回應：
規劃基建發展
政府近年因應社會需要大力推展土地房屋供應項目，學會認同政府審視工程開支效益，按項目優次緩急調整推進安排，其中相對成熟項目會繼續推進，例如北部都會區土地平整和基建，會較為合適；正在前期規劃或構思階段項目，將按重要性等因素調整進度，例如處於策略性位置的交椅洲人工島，亦可繼續推進相關研究。學會認為做法有助平衡現時政府財政狀況及投資未來的需要，亦可以確保各項大型基建有序進行，有助業界發展。
人才競爭
政府表示將於年中檢討「高才通」等安排，並舉辦全球人才高峰會。學會希望指出，工程業界及建造業界的人力資源，對香港未來基建、創科、工業及其他各類發展有着重要影響，除了各項吸引海外人才的入境政策，希望政府盡早落實學會早前建議增加工程公司參與香港工程師學會培訓計劃的補貼金額及名額，並為聘請海外畢業生的公司提供短期資助，提高聘請畢業生的誘因。
在培育人才方面，學會樂見政府增撥資源推動創科教育，向「奇趣IT識多啲計劃」增撥逾1.3億元，在未來兩個學年向每所資助小學提供最多30萬元資助，學會亦樂意協調會員，透過「回母校計劃」、「一校一工程師」等計劃，為中小學提供專業工程意見，長遠為工程專業建立人才庫。
促進土地和房屋供應
學會樂見政府接納學會早前的建議，研究投資「組裝合成」供應鏈的可能性，並於今年內成立「建築研發及測試中心」，推動行業應用創新。學會希望指出，業界及香港整體均面對勞動人口下降的情況，整個建造業求才若渴，以科技提升效率，有助減輕人手問題，同時促進整個產業鏈的發展。
學會同意政府考慮市況以決定推售土地的數量、種類和速度，隨着政府加快造地，有關做法較為靈活，亦確保土地資源用得其所。由於各類基建及建屋發展均涉及社會資源，學會期望政府支援發展項目，做到「提速、提效、提質、提量」。各審批部門，在確保質量安全的原則之下，除了作為「監管者」外，更應擔當「促進者」角色，協助加快項目進度，精簡審批流程。
促進創科及新型工業化發展
學會支持政府推動創新科技的眾多舉措，其中河套區將扮演重要角色，包括將於「河套深港科技創新合作區」設立「大灣區國際臨床試驗所」、今年內發布「河套香港園區發展白皮書」、撥款20億元支持「InnoHK創新香港研發平台」進駐河套，以及撥款2億元為河套生命健康初創提供孵化和加速計劃，彰顯政府力促創科發展的決心，亦預示河套區推動本地以至大灣區創科發展的重要地位。
學會亦樂見政府積極支援企業及大學研發，包括撥款60億元資助大學設立生命健康研發院、推出「新型工業加速計劃」、撥款30億元推行前沿科技研究支援計劃等，亦將就推行「專利盒」稅務優惠提交立法建議，利潤稅率調低至百分之5，有助鼓勵研發，促進「從零到一」的突破。
建設智慧、綠色及具抗禦力的城市
學會亦樂見政府促進可持續發展，學會歡迎政府延長電動車首次登記稅務寬減，進一步令電動車普及化，並推動可持續航空燃料在港使用，並推出先導計劃，探討在政府建築物幕牆應用太陽能板。學會亦歡迎政府今年內就東九龍、啟德和洪水橋/厦村智慧綠色集體運輸系統的建設和管理邀請意向書，尋求以創新方式解決困擾區內市民多年的交通問題。
學會樂見政府繼續致力鞏固香港國際航空及航運樞紐的地位，展開優化航運業稅務優惠的研究，並提供批量註冊優惠，吸引船東大規模將船舶於香港註冊；在航空業方面，政府將加強與現時主要航線及「一帶一路」航線的服務聯繫，配合國家「空中絲綢之路」建設，積極「走出去」，拓展香港航空業的版圖。
把握大灣區機遇
大灣區內經濟充滿創新活力，多個城市在不同產業各有優勢，為了幫助專業人士「走出去」，學會期望政府牽頭與內地有關部門探討專業資格互認，讓更多工程師通過CEPA或其他相關協議在內地執業。
現時香港和國家正朝向高質量發展的道路前進，香港與內地及大灣區的合作將更為重要，香港工程師學會及工程界將繼續貢獻專業工程知識和能力，與各界攜手建設更美好的香港。
如欲垂詢，請與香港工程師學會傳訊統籌部聯絡。
電話：2895 4446
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(Hong Kong, 28 February 2024) The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (hereafter “the HKIE”) welcomes the Government's adoption of some of the recommendations previously submitted by the HKIE in the 2024-25 Budget unveiled by the Financial Secretary. We believe these recommendations will help Hong Kong seize opportunities and promote high-quality development. The HKIE would like to provide the following response to this year’s Budget:
Planning of Infrastructure Development
The HKIE endorses what the Government, responding to societal needs, has undertaken in recent years to push rigorously for land and housing supply projects, namely its review of works projects’ cost-effectiveness and its adjustment of their implementation schedules based on project priorities and urgency. More appropriately, projects at a relatively mature stage will continue to be taken forward, such as site formation and infrastructure works for the Northern Metropolis. On the other hand, projects at the preliminary planning or conceptual stages, such as the strategically positioned Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands, will have their implementation schedules adjusted in accordance with their importance and have the relevant studies taken forward. The HKIE believes that this approach helps balance the current financial performance with the need for future investment, and ensures the orderly implementation of major infrastructure projects, thereby facilitating the development of the engineering industry.
Talent Trawling
The Government has indicated that the Top Talent Pass Scheme and other arrangements will be reviewed in the middle of the year, and a Global Talent Summit will be hosted. We would like to point out that human resources of the engineering and construction industries have a significant impact on Hong Kong’s future development in infrastructure, innovation, industry, and many other areas. In addition to various immigration policies to attract overseas talent, it is hoped that the Government would implement, at the earliest opportunity, the HKIE’s earlier recommendations to enhance the incentive for hiring engineering graduates. Suggested initiatives include increasing subsidies and quotas for engineering companies participating in the HKIE’s training scheme, and providing short-term subsidies to companies hiring overseas graduates.
In terms of talent cultivation, the HKIE is pleased to see the Government allocating more resources to promote IT education – providing additional funding of over HK$130 million for the “Knowing More About IT” Programme and subsidies of up to HK$300,000 for each publicly funded primary school in the next two academic years. We are receptive to coordinating and arranging members to provide professional engineering advice for primary and secondary schools through programmes such as the “Back to School Programme” and “One School One Engineer”, thereby establishing a talent reserve for the engineering profession in the long term.
Facilitating Land and Housing Supply
The HKIE is delighted to note that the Government has accepted our earlier recommendations to study the feasibility of investing in the supply chain of Modular Integrated Construction (MiC). We believe that the establishment of the Building Testing and Research Institute later this year will help encourage the industry to apply innovative technologies. The HKIE would like to point out that both the industry and the entirety of Hong Kong are facing a decline in the working population; the construction industry, in particular, is in great need of talent. Improving efficiency through innovation and technology not only mitigates labour shortage but also promotes the development of the whole industry chain.
The HKIE agrees with the Government that market conditions are to be considered in determining the quantity, types and pace of land sales. As the Government accelerates land development, such practices offer greater flexibility and ensure the fitting use of land resources. Since the various housing and infrastructure developments all involve social resources, the HKIE looks forward to the Government’s support of development projects to enhance Speed, Efficiency, Quality and Quantity. While adhering to the principle of ensuring quality and safety, each approving department should act not only as a “regulator” but also as a “facilitator” to help expedite project progress and streamline the approval process.
Promoting Innovation and Technology and New Industrialisation
The HKIE supports the Government’s various initiatives to promote innovation and technology (I&T), among which the Lok Ma Chau Loop (The Loop) will play a crucial role. These initiatives include the establishment of Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute in the Hetao Shenzhen Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, the release of White Paper on the Development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park later this year, the allocation of HK$2 billion to support the InnoHK research clusters to establish presence in the Loop, and the allocation of HK$200 million to assist start-ups engaging in life and health technology through incubation and acceleration programmes. These initiatives demonstrate the Government’s commitment to promote I&T development and signify the important role of the Loop in advancing such development both locally and regionally across the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
The HKIE also welcomes the Government’s staunch support for enterprise and university research and development (R&D). These include allocating HK$6 billion to subsidise the establishment of life and health technology research institutes, launching New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme, allocating HK$3 billion to implement the Frontier Technology Research Infrastructure Support Scheme, as well as introducing into the Legislative Council a proposal regarding the implementation of the “patent box” tax incentive, which will reduce the tax rate for profits to 5%. This will help encourage R&D and facilitate breakthroughs out of the blue.
Building a Smart, Green, and Resilient City
The HKIE acknowledges the Government’s efforts to promote sustainable development. We appreciate the extension of the first registration tax concession for electric vehicles (EVs), advancing the popularisation of EVs even further. The use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel locally is also encouraged, and the application of solar panels on government building façades is explored through a pilot scheme. We also support the Government’s invitation for expression of interest in the construction and management of smart and green mass transit systems in East Kowloon, Kai Tak, and Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen within this year. This initiative seeks to address, through innovative solutions, long-standing traffic issues affecting residents in these areas.
The HKIE is pleased by the Government’s continual commitment to strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an international aviation and maritime logistics hub by initiating research on optimising tax incentive for the maritime industry and providing block registration incentives to attract ship owners to register their vessels in Hong Kong extensively. As for the aviation industry, the Government will enhance service connections with existing major routes and routes along the Belt and Road in alignment with the construction of the national “Air Silk Road” so as to actively “go global” and expand Hong Kong’s aviation industry.
Seizing the Opportunities from GBA
The economy within the GBA is filled with innovation and creativity, with different cities and industries having their own advantages. To assist professionals in “going global”, the HKIE hopes that the Government will take the lead in engaging relevant Mainland authorities to explore the expansion of mutual recognition of professional qualifications. This will enable more engineers to practice in the mainland through CEPA or other relevant agreements.
Hong Kong, and China as a whole, are currently striding towards high-quality development, where cooperation between Hong Kong, the Mainland, and the GBA will become increasingly important. The HKIE and the engineering industry will continue to contribute our engineering knowledge and expertise, working hand in hand with various sectors to build a better Hong Kong.
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