中小企信貸保證額增百億

(明報 2011年2月23日) 於2011-12年度的財政預算案中，曾俊華表示，為進一步支持中小企，「中小企業信貸保證計劃」的信貸保證承擔總額由200億增至300億。 曾俊華指出，工業貿易署的「中小企業信貸保證計劃」一直受到業界歡迎。

自2008年11月實施加強措施後，大大增加了中小企在使用信貸保證方面的彈性。截至2011年1月底，工業貿易署已批出超過150億元的信貸保證，涉及貸款約330億元，惠及超過12000家中小企。為顯示政府對中小企的持續支援，他建議將「中小企業信貸保證計劃」的信貸保證承擔總額，由現時的200億元大幅增加至300億元。

Happy Lunar New Year

HK remains freest economy as lead slips

[Hong Kong Standard, Jan 13 2011]

“Hong Kong remains the freest economy in the world for the 17th straight year but Singapore is hot on its heels, the Heritage Foundation said.

The Economic Freedom Index, released yesterday by the conservative think tank and Wall Street Journal ranks 183 countries and places on 10 measures for openness, rule of law and competitiveness.

While Hong Kong's score is unchanged at 89.7 out of 100, Singapore gained 1.1 points on financial freedom.

"There is a possibility Singapore may overtake Hong Kong in the near future as the state has more room for improvement in banking," said Terry Miller, the US foundation's index editor, adding Hong Kong's major drawback is an oversized fiscal surplus.

"There's no reason the government should have a surplus more than the monetary base," said Hugo Restall, editorial page editor for Wall Street Journal Asia. That surplus, he said, should be cut by at least half and the profits tax rate trimmed to 15 percent.

Hong Kong declined in government spending and labor freedom.

The mainland came in as "mostly unfree" at 135 and a score that is lower than averages for the world and Asia.”

With the minimum wage legislation implemented and major revisions of the Company Law under way, our business community is keeping an watchful eye on impact of such to the dynamics of our market.

最低工資議案通過

(蘋果日報2011年1月6日)

爭論多時的最低工資水平正式落實，立法會昨日大比數否決廢除最低工資水平定在時薪 28元的議案，換言之，本港首個最低工資水平將按政府建議訂在時薪 28元， 5月 1日生效。

三項修訂全否決
立法會昨審議最低工資三條附屬法例，部份議員提出動議廢除最低工資時薪 28元議案、將最低工資實施日期由 5月 1日推前至 2月 1日，以及將僱主保存工資紀錄月薪上限由 11,500元提高至 20,000元，三項修訂同樣被否決。

New Banks to join Loan Scheme for Small & Medium Enterprises

[Hong Kong Standard, Jan 3 2011] "Ten banks have signed deals with the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation to participate in a financing plan for local small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The corporation's SME financing guarantee scheme helps non-listed local companies obtain loans from banks, beginning this month.

The money can be used as general working capital or to acquire assets.

The corporation will guarantee 50 to 70 percent of bank loans for eligible companies - up to HK$12 million for a firm for a maximum of five years.

"Administrative fees will be waived for SMEs that join the scheme before the end of June," said a spokesperson for Bank of East Asia.

"The scheme can provide some buffer to the market, to protect SMEs," said Alex Cheung Kin-sang, DBS (Hong Kong) managing director. A source said SMEs need time to study the details."

For more details about the loan scheme or participating banks, please contact our customer service team at Synergy Business Centre at (852)28041628 or info@synergybc.com.hk .

匯豐增撥中小企貸款資金

【明報專訊七月廿三日】匯豐銀行昨天宣布，再度增撥40億港元作中小企貸款資金，在香港共撥款160億元。匯豐近月接連提升中小企貸款撥款額，自去年12月，首次撥出40億元作中小企貸款資金後，分別於3月及6月增撥款額，至今已批出逾120億元予5454家中小企，昨天則宣布再加碼40億元，總金額將達160億元。匯豐環球工廠業務亞太區聯席主管郭懷道指出，其客戶表示，去年第4季的訂單開始增加，而且銀行根據最近調查所得，中小企對下半年市道展望樂觀，是匯豐增撥中小企貸款的主因。 想了解卓智商務顧問提供的獨立融資中介服務，請致電 (852) 28041628。

跨境貿易人民幣結算

(2009年7月6日新華社香港電)

香港與內地跨境貿易人民幣結算業務６日正式展開，市場認為，直接以人民幣結算交易，有助降低匯率成本及減少風險，對業務有幫助。

跨境貿易人民幣結算業務的展開有利于企業規避匯率風險並鎖定成本，從而促進進出口貿易，同時有利于香港銀行拓展業務空間。