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One of the indicators of whether a city can be considered as an international metropolis is perhaps the English proficiency of its residents. According to the EF English Proficiency Index report in 2023, Hong Kong ranked fourth among 23 countries and regions in Asia. However, there are two examples of different attitudes towards English in developed areas of Asia.

One of the indicators of whether a city can be considered as an international metropolis is perhaps the English proficiency of its residents. According to the EF English Proficiency Index report in 2023, Hong Kong ranked fourth among 23 countries and regions in Asia. However, there are two examples of different attitudes towards English in developed areas of Asia.

The norm of ‘going north’ distresses local businesses. Yet, the author believes limited long-term impact on Hong Kong's economy. The development of local service industry actually is more correlated with the city's ability to grow its future economy and sustain long-term global competitiveness.

The norm of ‘going north’ distresses local businesses. Yet, the author believes limited long-term impact on Hong Kong's economy. The development of local service industry actually is more correlated with the city's ability to grow its future economy and sustain long-term global competitiveness.

去年2月，筆者在本專欄撰文，剖析新冠肺炎疫情之後出現的東滯西脹現象。一年半之後的今天，西脹回落，東滯猶在。本月9日，中國經濟運行的統計數據公布，7月份消費價格指數比去年同期下降0.3%，出現了自2021年2月以來的首次按年負增長；不僅如此，生產價格指數的按年跌幅為4.4%，延續6月的下降趨勢。

去年2月，筆者在本專欄撰文，剖析新冠肺炎疫情之後出現的東滯西脹現象。一年半之後的今天，西脹回落，東滯猶在。本月9日，中國經濟運行的統計數據公布，7月份消費價格指數比去年同期下降0.3%，出現了自2021年2月以來的首次按年負增長；不僅如此，生產價格指數的按年跌幅為4.4%，延續6月的下降趨勢。

香港正鬧人才荒已經是不爭的事實。根據大型求職網站JobsDB最新發布的《2023年招聘、薪酬及福利調查報告》，有68%受訪企業表示招聘困難，而60%僱主指出填補職位不易，因為「難以招聘合適人才」。特區政府也不再猶抱琵琶半遮面，坦言人才缺口不容忽視。

As the gig economy grows, companies need to adapt to a changed incentives landscape.

筆者兩個月前在本欄撰文〈香江失健筆，本港缺奇才〉，論及香港文藝界花果飄零，創意行業難以振興。一些朋友頗有微詞，責怪筆者沒由來的悲觀。過去兩月，各種藝術節、文化節、展覽會、音樂會接踵而至，乃至五一黃金周前的美食市集、全港戲院日，無不四處人頭湧動，足見本地文藝文化產業活力十足。筆者自問：錯否，錯否？繁花似錦，卻道綠肥紅瘦！