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“我們為什麼選擇香港？”——在港國際商界精英如此說
2021年8月1日
資料來源: 新華網
新華社香港8月1日電（記者方棟、孔維一）近年來，香港的局勢變化牽動著無數國際企業和投資者的心。歷經社會動盪和新冠肺炎疫情，作為國際金融和商貿之都的香港發生了怎樣的變化？未來發展前景又如何？讓我們聽聽那些在港長期工作和生活的外籍商界人士如何作答。
“一定要來香港！”
“如果有人問我，企業想在亞洲設立辦公室，應該選擇哪裡，我會告訴他們：一定要來香港！”中電控股首席執行官藍凌志斬釘截鐵地說。
日前，在接受新華社記者專訪時，藍凌志滔滔不絕地談起這座亞洲商貿大都市的獨特魅力：亞洲是世界上最具活力的地區，而香港地理位置優越，聯通區內各方；香港高度國際化，擁有融匯中外的獨特優勢，是外界了解、進入中國內地的重要窗口；香港擁有完善的法治保障、發達的金融市場、廣泛的商業網絡，企業在這裡經營便捷又安心。
“所有那些使企業成功的要素，香港都有。”藍凌志說。
和藍凌誌有著相同感受的在港國際人士不在少數。嘉柏環球集團董事長兼創始人吉姆·湯普森已在香港工作55年，他不僅非常認可香港的商業氛圍，更對未來發展前景充滿信心。
“亞洲是很多全球企業國際業務的重要增長引擎。想要抓住發展機遇，就必須落戶亞洲。沒有比香港更適合跨國公司設立地區辦事處的地方了。”湯普森說。
在港經營超過50年的香港美國商會日前發表聲明指出，香港作為國際商業中心具有至關重要的作用，仍然是東西方貿易和資金流動重要且活躍的推動者。香港擁有亞洲最發達的基礎設施、國際公認的商法體係以及比許多其他亞洲地區更為開放和完善的數字基礎設施，並且香港的金融市場在全球位列前五。
歷經風雨繁榮依舊
1985年，馬來西亞人顏溪俊來到香港，為他供職的國際企業設立辦公室。如今，他已是港澳馬來西亞商會會長，和這座亞洲商貿大都會也已結緣近40載。
如他一般來香港打拼的馬來西亞人還有很多。顏溪俊在接受香港媒體採訪時表示，從創辦公司企業、從事銀行金融到參與工程建築，在香港僑居的數以萬計馬來西亞人從事著各種工作。不計其數的馬來西亞公司在香港籌集資金、尋找合作夥伴，並且放眼充滿機遇的內地市場。
“香港仍然是一個非常適合居住和投資的地方。看看最近的股市和房價，所有指標都顯示，人們有信心香港能夠繼續繁榮發展。”他說。
藍凌志則是在1992年離開澳大利亞來到香港工作的。回看當時的選擇，他感嘆道：“這是我人生中作過的最正確的決定之一。說真的，我很快就喜歡上了這裡，從那時起香港就是我的家了。”
“回顧過去30年，香港經歷了起起落落，從金融危機到社會動盪，還有最近的新冠肺炎疫情，但每一次香港都挺過來了，並且變得更加繁榮。”藍凌志說，他對這座國際大都會的發展前景充滿信心。“香港現在已經穩定下來了，未來將會越來越好。”
一系列經濟和金融數據也證明了香港繁榮穩定的發展態勢。過去一年，香港新股集資額超過5000億港元，同比增加超過50%；去年7月至10月，流入港元體系資金超過3000億港元，港元市場於2020年錄得資金淨流入；目前有約9000家內地及海外企業在香港設立辦事處，其中超過40%以香港作為區域總部或區域辦事處。
在香港打拼“最好的時刻”
經受住“修例風波”和疫情的雙重衝擊後，香港已恢復了穩定的社會環境，經濟復甦勢頭強勁。企業對未來發展更加樂觀，對香港的營商環境也更有信心。
“香港是世界上最好的城市之一，企業當然希望在一個穩定的環境中經營，我們需要公平的法治，廉潔和安全的營商環境。”吉姆·湯普森說，“今年以來，香港的環境越來越好了。我希望香港明年的情況會變得更好，未來也能夠繼續保持這一勢頭。”
香港本地生產總值今年前兩個季度分別同比增長8%和7.5%，經濟復甦勢頭明顯。失業率更是“四連降”，回落至一年多以前的水平。專家預測，香港經濟增長在下半年有望提速，突破特區政府此前預測的3.5%至5.5%的區間。
與此同時，粵港澳大灣區更為香港未來發展提供了更多機遇。
“我們就在世界第二大經濟體的門口，就在蓬勃發展的粵港澳大灣區。在香港，我們能夠借助各種便利的設施、信息和商業網絡進入內地市場，獲得新的發展機遇。”顏溪俊說，對許多馬來西亞企業來說，來到香港的一個重要原因，就是能夠更好地拓展內地市場。
對於香港的發展前景，香港特區行政長官林鄭月娥近日更是做出了準確而形象的評價——“對香港有歸屬感，亦願意在這裡打拼的人，現在就是最好的時刻。”
林鄭月娥說，中央制定香港國安法、完善特區選舉制度，使得香港恢復了穩定和秩序。在中央的支持之下，香港更能享受“十四五”規劃綱要和粵港澳大灣區中的無限機遇，迎來更大的發展。“（香港的）前景是非常之好！”她說。
The 5 Main Reasons To Consider Hong Kong When Investing In China
04 November 2015
by Keri Wong from Vistra
Powered by Mondaq AI
As the top recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2014 (source: UNCTAD), China is unarguably an important destination for investment. Nevertheless, China’s regulatory environment and implementation procedures continue to present a challenge for foreign investors.
It is important not only to consider the different vehicles available when investing in China, e.g. a wholly foreign-owned enterprise, joint venture or representative office, but also the jurisdiction through which a Chinese investment is held.
Hong Kong has always been and continues to be the preferred jurisdiction for structuring both China inbound and outbound investments. Last year, close to 72% of investments into China were through Hong Kong, which far exceeded direct investments into China by any other country. Singapore, China’s second largest investor, accounted for less than 5% of China’s inbound FDI (source: Investment Promotion Agency of MOFCOM).
Below are five of the main reasons why Hong Kong is favoured over any alternative.
1. Protection for the foreign parent company
The most common and efficient structure for foreign investment into China is a Hong Kong holding company. This holding company can be used as parent to the Chinese foreign investment enterprise as well as to structure other investments into the region.
The private limited company is the most common type of entity to be registered in Hong Kong. It is governed by the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance, has its own independent legal personality and liability is limited to a shareholder’s subscribed capital.
As a holding company of the Chinese investment, this structure may offer foreign investors more protection than a direct shareholding in a Chinese company and significantly more protection than creating a joint venture (JV) in China, where ownership is shared with a local Chinese partner. If a JV is used, structuring it at the Hong Kong level may offer greater flexibility and less risk for investors than setting up the JV in China.
2. Legal benefits
Many investors in the region prefer their contracts and disputes to be governed by Hong Kong law and subject to the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong courts.
This is because Hong Kong has a stable, mature and accessible legal system, based on the familiar concept of English Common law and supported by a fully independent judiciary. All laws are in English and proceedings can be held in English on request.
Hong Kong is also a leading centre for international arbitration. Hong Kong’s courts are renowned for upholding arbitral decisions, and awards granted under Hong Kong arbitration are consistently recognised in jurisdictions around the world.
Another attractive feature of Hong Kong’s legal system is the protection offered to intellectual property (IP). This is more extensive and enforceable in Hong Kong than in China, and many businesses operating in China may wish to register their IP rights through a Hong Kong holding company to ensure infringements are dealt with appropriately.
While Hong Kong has long been a popular jurisdiction for resolving Chinese-foreign disputes, it has not always been easy to enforce Hong Kong court judgments in China. This changed in 2006: although the Hong Kong and China legal systems remain separate, an arrangement between the two jurisdictions now enables the reciprocal enforcement of court judgments. The arrangement applies to final and conclusive financial judgments and to arbitral awards. Consequently, businesses that choose to use the Hong Kong courts may have more confidence that judgments will be upheld in China.
3. Additional flexibility
Transferring or restructuring shareholdings in a Chinese vehicle is a lengthy process that requires compliance with Chinese regulations and cooperation of government authorities as well as extensive documentary approvals. These are not always forthcoming and transactions may be delayed as a result.
Corporate restructuring at the level of a Hong Kong holding company, however, is a straight forward process of registration and filing. Although some reporting may be required in China for the change of shareholding of a Hong Kong holding company, it is easier and more efficient than restructuring a Chinese vehicle directly.
Hence, for businesses that operate in Mainland China or across the region, a Hong Kong company is an effective regional holding platform, streamlining the investment and disposal process of entities in North and South East Asia.
4. Potential tax benefits
When investing in China through a Hong Kong company, certain advantages may be granted by the double tax agreement (DTA) between Hong Kong and China, which is one of the most well-established and familiar tax agreements to Chinese authorities:
a) Dividends: Dividends paid by a Chinese company to a foreign investor are subject to withholding tax at the rate of 10% unless reduced under a DTA. Under the DTA between Hong Kong and China, dividends paid by a Chinese company to a Hong Kong parent are subject to withholding tax at the reduced rate of 5%, provided the DTA conditions are met.
b) Interest and royalties: Interest and royalties received by a Hong Kong parent company from a Chinese subsidiary also benefit from the DTA – the maximum rate of withholding tax on both is reduced to 7%. This compares favourably with direct payment from China to other jurisdictions where the current withholding tax rate is 10%, unless otherwise reduced under a DTA.
It must be noted that to take advantage of the DTA, the Hong Kong company must be able to demonstrate business substance in Hong Kong.
In addition, Hong Kong adopts a territorial system of taxation where a tax exemption may be granted for profits that are not of a Hong Kong source. Profits derived in Hong Kong are only subject to a corporate tax rate of 16.5%. Hong Kong does not charge tax on dividends received by a Hong Kong company or withholding tax on dividends paid to shareholders (local or overseas).
5. Simple, efficient and cost-effective administration
From an administrative perspective, incorporating a company in Hong Kong is quick, easy and cost-effective. It can be completed within 24 hours and requires only one individual director (additional corporate and individual directors may be appointed). Although the company must have a local secretary and a Hong Kong registered office, directors do not need to be resident in Hong Kong.
Conclusion
With the modernisation of foreign investment policies in China and its neighbouring countries in the region, investing directly has become significantly easier in recent years. Nevertheless, many foreign investors still opt to invest via an investment holding vehicle based in a country that offers better protection, familiarity and flexibility as well as accessibility when entering new markets.
In 2014, Hong Kong was the second largest recipient of FDI in the world, while China held the top spot. Hong Kong also ranked second in terms of FDI outflows behind only the United States and ahead of China (source: UNCTAD). These rankings are strong indicators that Hong Kong plays a vital role as a ‘super-connector’ and a conduit for investment between Asia and the Western world.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.