Leading rent management is really good?

The two members of the Legislative Council, Mrs Ip and the United States, have proposed a private bill to amend the Housing Ordinance and the Inland Revenue Ordinance to introduce rent control and existing tenancy extensions and shops for the shopping malls and markets. Vacant tax. It is really amazing that the two members of the Communist Party have made a slap in the face. It should be noted that the establishment system has always adopted a relatively passive attitude towards the topic of the exhibition. Why is it so unconventional today to propose such a “hot trick”?

In the past 10 years or so, the exhibition has almost become a street mouse for everyone. Whether it is a public housing tenant or a small merchant, all of them have repeatedly complained about the increase in rents, the rush to small businesses and the introduction of chain groups. It is natural to get social applause from the legislative amendments to the exhibition. However, in November this year, the district board was reelected. At this time, the “draft” was proposed. It seems to be an election project for the founding political group to vote for the grassroots voters.

The reason for this is that the policy principles behind the “draft” are very different from the principles that Hong Kong has always pursued, and even affect other public utilities. The political party puts forward this kind of proposition, either by arrogance or by the political group in the direction of public policy.

In the past, the formed political group had reservations about any claim to resume rent control. Why did it propose to implement the rental control of consular shops and stalls today? More importantly, even if Hong Kong has implemented tenancy control, it is only for residential buildings and has never been targeted at industrial and commercial buildings. Members who have proposed “drafts” really need to explain why they suddenly want to embrace such non-general tenancy control today.

In addition, if the “Draft” is passed, it will be a precedent to send a message to the business sector – the Government and the legislature can at any time amend the law to intervene in the pricing mechanism of public utilities; all future energy, telecommunications, public transport and even private education And the pricing mechanism of medical institutions must be determined by law. This message is very easy for investors to misunderstand that Hong Kong’s business environment will undergo fundamental changes. This is not a good thing for Hong Kong. It is necessary to think twice before implementing it.

In fact, the “draft” can really benefit small businesses and consumers. First of all, after years of so-called asset optimization or upgrading projects, many of the consular shopping malls are no longer the world of small merchants, and they are replaced by one chain after another. Just compare the restaurant combinations of several consulates and you know that most of them have been monopolized by chain groups. When small businesses have been phased out, who will benefit from rent control or priority renewal?

Secondly, even if the “draft” enters the deliberation process, the implementation of the “draft” will most likely be counted in years. During the period, the Link will seek to tighten the rent level before the commencement of the Ordinance to meet the tenancy control. Speed ​​up the pace of rent adjustment, then you can afford to rent expensive, do you think it will be a chain store or a small business?

It must be noted that, in the principle of business negotiation, will the merchants give back the rents saved to consumers or employees? The author believes that if the operator is a small merchant, the opportunity still exists, but if it is replaced by a chain group, it is sure that there will be no songs. At present, the merchant portfolio of the exhibition is definitely dominated by chain stores, and the benefits of consumers and employees are naturally limited.

Members who wish to propose a “draft” can think carefully about the above analysis and determine that the final clause of the “draft” can achieve its original objectives and benefit all stakeholders, rather than the politics that some politicians brag about for elections.