logo
  • Global Presence
  • About Us
        • About us about us
        • A Premier Business School in Asia with Global Influence
        • Overview
          • Message from the Dean
          • Vision & Mission
          • Milestones
          • Partnerships & Global Network
          • Beta Gamma Sigma HKU Chapter
          • Rankings & Accreditations
          • Corporate Collaboration
        • Leadership
          • Faculty Management
          • International Advisory Council
        • Our Stories
        • Contact Us
        • Staff Portal
        • Campuses
  • Programmes
        • Programmes programmes
        • Diversified Learning Experience Empowers our Students
        • Undergraduate
        • Masters
          • MAA
          • MAcct
          • MCGRM
          • MEcon
          • MFWM
          • MFin
          • MFFinTech
          • MGM
          • MSAF
          • MSc(BA)
          • MScMktg
          • MWM
        • MBAs & EMBAs
          • MBA
          • IMBA
          • HKU EMBA
        • PhD
        • Executive Education
        • DBA
  • People
        • People people
        • International Faculty Body that Offers Quality Education
        • Faculty
        • Post-Doctoral Fellows
        • Demonstrators/ Teaching Assistants
        • Research Postgraduate Students
        • Administration
  • Research
        • Research research
        • Lead the Frontier of Knowledge Creation
        • Thought Leadership
          • Latest Research Publications
          • HKEJ Column
          • FT Chinese Column
          • In the Media
        • Academic Areas
        • Faculty Members
        • Research Grants
        • Seminars & Conferences
          • Edward K Y Chen Distinguished Lecture Series
        • Research Centres & Institutes
        • Hong Kong Macroeconomics Forecast
        • HKU Knowledge Exchange
        • HKU Scholars Hub
        • Shenzhen Research Institutes
  • Events
  • Media
        • Media media
        • Inspire the Society and Community with Rigorous Insights
        • School News
        • In the Media
        • Press Release
  • Career
        • Career career
        • Fostering Strategic Partnerships and Talent Development
        • Recruit our Talents
        • Student Career Development
        • Career Opportunities
          • Faculty Recruitments
          • HKU Career Site
  • 繁
  • 简
Type To Search
logo
Type To Search
  • Global Presence
  • About Us
        • About us about us
        • A Premier Business School in Asia with Global Influence
        • Overview
          • Message from the Dean
          • Vision & Mission
          • Milestones
          • Partnerships & Global Network
          • Beta Gamma Sigma HKU Chapter
          • Rankings & Accreditations
          • Corporate Collaboration
        • Leadership
          • Faculty Management
          • International Advisory Council
        • Our Stories
        • Contact Us
        • Staff Portal
        • Campuses
  • Programmes
        • Programmes programmes
        • Diversified Learning Experience Empowers our Students
        • Undergraduate
        • Masters
          • MAA
          • MAcct
          • MCGRM
          • MEcon
          • MFWM
          • MFin
          • MFFinTech
          • MGM
          • MSAF
          • MSc(BA)
          • MScMktg
          • MWM
        • MBAs & EMBAs
          • MBA
          • IMBA
          • HKU EMBA
        • PhD
        • Executive Education
        • DBA
  • People
        • People people
        • International Faculty Body that Offers Quality Education
        • Faculty
        • Post-Doctoral Fellows
        • Demonstrators/ Teaching Assistants
        • Research Postgraduate Students
        • Administration
  • Research
        • Research research
        • Lead the Frontier of Knowledge Creation
        • Thought Leadership
          • Latest Research Publications
          • HKEJ Column
          • FT Chinese Column
          • In the Media
        • Academic Areas
        • Faculty Members
        • Research Grants
        • Seminars & Conferences
          • Edward K Y Chen Distinguished Lecture Series
        • Research Centres & Institutes
        • Hong Kong Macroeconomics Forecast
        • HKU Knowledge Exchange
        • HKU Scholars Hub
        • Shenzhen Research Institutes
  • Events
  • Media
        • Media media
        • Inspire the Society and Community with Rigorous Insights
        • School News
        • In the Media
        • Press Release
  • Career
        • Career career
        • Fostering Strategic Partnerships and Talent Development
        • Recruit our Talents
        • Student Career Development
        • Career Opportunities
          • Faculty Recruitments
          • HKU Career Site
港大經管學院
  • Global Presence
  • About Us
    • Overview
      • Message from the Dean
      • Vision & Mission
      • Milestones
      • Partnerships & Global Network
      • Beta Gamma Sigma HKU Chapter
      • Rankings & Accreditations
      • Corporate Collaboration
    • Leadership
      • Faculty Management
      • International Advisory Council
    • Our Stories
    • Contact Us
    • Staff Portal
    • Campuses
  • Programmes
    • Undergraduate
    • Masters
      • MAA
      • MAcct
      • MCGRM
      • MEcon
      • MFWM
      • MFin
      • MFFinTech
      • MGM
      • MSAF
      • MSc(BA)
      • MScMktg
      • MWM
    • MBAs & EMBAs
      • MBA
      • IMBA
      • HKU EMBA
    • DBA
    • PhD
    • Executive Education
  • People
    • Faculty
    • Post-Doctoral Fellows
    • Demonstrators/ Teaching Assistants
    • Research Postgraduate Students
    • Administration
  • Research
    • Thought Leadership
      • Latest Research Publications
      • HKEJ Column
      • FT Chinese Column
      • In the Media
    • Academic Areas
    • Faculty Members
    • Research Grants
    • Seminars & Conferences
      • Edward K Y Chen Distinguished Lecture Series
    • Research Centres & Institutes
    • Hong Kong Macroeconomics Forecast
    • HKU Knowledge Exchange
    • HKU Scholars Hub
    • Shenzhen Research Institutes
  • Events
  • Media
    • School News
    • In the Media
    • Press Release
  • Career
    • Recruit our Talents
    • Student Career Development
    • Career Opportunities
      • Faculty Recruitments
      • HKU Career Site

In the Media

Home Research Thought Leadership In the Media
Fight poverty with entrepreneurship

Fight poverty with entrepreneurship

30 Sep 2020
Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on WhatsappShare on LinkedInShare on Email

創業脫貧  雙軌並行  

香港經濟面臨嚴峻困境,令人憂慮貧窮問題勢將變本加厲。

2018年,全港貧窮人口為140.6萬,在恆常現金政策介入後,則降至102.4萬,其中90,100人為18–29歲青年,佔整體貧窮人口8.8%,比率更在過去3年持續上升【註】。政府為此於2016年設立青年發展基金及青少年空間共享計劃,2017及2018年施政報告亦提出加強對年青人追求創新和創業的支援,並鼓勵年青人開拓境外(如大灣區)的發展機會。

不過,要透過整體創業率以改善貧窮人口比例,殊非易事,正如香港大學經濟學講座教授王于漸2016年1月6日在《信報》撰文,探討「創業低潮何時了?」觀乎僱主人數佔總就業人數比例,可見香港近20多年來,三個年齡組別的創業百分率連年下降【圖】。

圖:1985–2019年僱主人數佔全港就業人口比率

資料來源:政府統計處

改弦易轍效益多

創業精神足以改變世界,初創企業不但提供就業機會,更可形成新產業,為固有市場秩序帶來新挑戰,導致汰弱留強,破舊立新,亦即「創造性破壞」(creative destruction)的經濟概念。

環顧西方國家,不少政府都受惠於創新產品和服務,從而支持整體經濟發展。事實上,創業更有助社會變革,創業家日益重視人權、貧窮、教育和環境等關鍵議題 。新創企業的成功對於經濟健康、創新和社會財富同樣不可或缺,尤其有助強化國家、地區和城市的競爭力。政府須致力通過提供有效機制,以鼓勵和支援創業,也就不言而喻。

創業關卡比比皆是

新創企業在資源需求、時間以至管理風格、財務實力和發展方向等方面,無疑各有不同要求。低收入創業者固然有的生意成功而致富,但更多的創業目的無非只為解決生活所需,其中涉及的創業挑戰,有別於具專業知識和技能者,而往往關乎缺乏資金和抵押品、信貸紀錄不佳、人際網絡薄弱等。由於先天條件不足,其客戶服務、庫存穩定性或創造資本以提升業務的能力,難免備受限制。

他們一般亦只能進入門檻較低的行業,或集中提供勞動密集型的產品和服務,例如餐飮和運輸。鑑於新競爭者容易加入,在飽和的市場中,產品和服務素質看來差別不大,難以建立品牌忠誠度,創業者只能以薄利多銷求存。

能夠突圍而出的創業者多靠自身勞動力,較少利用自動化機器等科技資本設備,或因負擔不起,或因欠缺所需知識和技能,以致無法提高效率和降低成本。小型業務的現金流一般比較緊絀,只能少量購買以補充貨存;與供應商和客戶等談判時,則難以處於有利位置,容易推高入貨的單位成本,定價又偏低,其所賺取利潤自然低微。

至於以現金交易的初創企業,經常會面對現金管理不善的問題。 最大的挑戰是公私難分,把應該注入業務的收入,轉作個人消費開支,進一步削弱業務增長的潛力。

在缺乏資源推廣業務的大前提之下,要建立獨特品牌和形象,只能靠顧客口碑、創業者待人接物的態度及個人聲譽。若產品或服務缺乏差異化,問題就更加嚴重。創業者必須靠在價格上競爭,靠勞動密集經營,單位成本高,利潤微薄,客戶往往只會把其產品或服務當作普通商品看待。 在成熟市場中,基礎客戶的消費增幅有限;利潤偏低,可供再投資的資金長期處於低水平,令創業者陷入艱苦經營,終被淘汰的境地。從社會角度而言,盈利未能持續,自然有礙於創業精神的培養。

支援低收入創業者

針對鼓勵低收入一群創業,以期脫貧的目標,社會必須提供基礎設施,包括創業培訓機制、資金供應、合作共享空間和初創企業孵化器、支援性的商業環境、社交網路、小型企業資助組織和市場資訊等等。

要建立和推廣創業精神,必須改革相關的金融基礎設施,為創業者提供可負擔的融資選擇,讓他們擺脫對昂貴信用卡和高息債務的依賴。若論創業賴以成功的基礎條件,尤其在草創階段,則主要繫於創始人的熱誠、樂觀性格、適應力和頑強意志等特質,以便隨機應變,克服挑戰。

大致上,低收入創業者的機會成本和所要求的回報率相對較低,只能盡用僅有的資源,勉強維持業務,卻難言創富。他們的教育程度一般較低。 因此,為他們提供的培訓和發展計劃,應著重灌輸基本商業知識和創業技能這兩方面, 培訓內容則宜涵蓋業務規劃、人員配置、銷售技巧、市場營銷、現金流管理、員工監督、採購和記錄保存等。

此外,這類創業者往往未能事先充分評估業務上的潛在機遇和市場風險。因此,培訓課程還應培養多方面能力,例如機會識別與評估、風險緩解、資源利用、以具創意方式解決問題和傳達令人信服的願景。

同舟共濟為上策

在提高創業率和新創企業的持續發展一環,相關公共政策應聚焦協助低收入人士創業脱貧,宜投放更多資源,以全面優化社會的創業生態。在建立和推動創業精神方面,政府亦須擔當更為積極的協調和領導角色,而非單靠派發現金扶貧,優惠措施可包括為鼓勵低收入人士創業的稅務寬減、收入補貼、商業貸款擔保,以至非常時期的監管救濟等。

政府的創業支援機制,亦可以因應不同業務階段進行評核,奬勵有進步的初創企業。政府協調或提供的相關培訓、貸款擔保的數量、甚至收入補貼的價值,都可因應創業啟動前後、穩定落實和增長階段的進展而調節。 投資於小額信貸計劃來支援初創企業的商業機構,亦可按初創業務的進展而獲得相應的稅務減免。

釋放低收入人士的創業潛力,將大大有利於改善貧困狀況,令整體社會受益。 創業不應被視為特殊的經濟活動,以為只有天賦異稟或受幸運之神眷顧者才有條件起步。儘管低收入人士在生活上障礙重重,其創業精神理應受到鼓勵,而加以普及化。

無論創業者是全職或兼職,初創業務屬盈利或非盈利,低技術或高端科技,政府和有關團體都應施以援手,讓創業者自力更生之餘,更可促進社會共融。扶貧委員會轄下的社創基金,早於2013年成立,旨在促進社會創新和培育創新精神,協助紓緩貧窮問題;政府既已邁出了第一步,不妨進一步擴展可持續社會創新社群。

香港面對內憂外患,經濟低迷,政府更因抗疫而開支大增,儲備急劇下降,各行各業都醞釀裁員,使貧窮問題及公共財政壓力惡化,創業脫貧政策此時不推,還待何時?

註:《2018年香港貧窮情況報告》,香港特別行政區政府,2019年12 月

謝國生博士
港大經管學院金融學首席講師、新界鄉議局當然執行委員

(本文同時於二零二零年九月三十日載於《信報》「龍虎山下」專欄)

港大鄧希煒撐再工業化 「香港本身有工業DNA」|財經加零一29 Sep 2020
The 2020 Fourth Quarter Hong Kong Macroeconomic Forecast Report07 Oct 2020
Trending
Innovation Strategy Common Ground – from Poverty Alleviation to International Web3 Centre
Innovation Strategy Common Ground – from Poverty Alleviation to International Web3 Centre
Prof. Joseph CHAN
Hong Kong has long been successful in its four pillar industries, comprising trading and logistics, financial services, professional and producer services and tourism. According to the research by the HK government, they contributed close to 60% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and almost half of the total employment before COVID. However, all these four pillars have encountered the decline in their respective area – resulting from the rapid change in market need & user behavior, regional and global competition, the development in new value-chain and advanced technology, as well as geo-political environment. As a solution, ‘innovation’ has been introduced to address these pain-points of Hong Kong. The question to ask, how should we develop the innovation strategies – instead of coming up ideas for the sake of ‘innovation’? In this article, we will discuss how innovation strategy could be approached from the perspective of poverty alleviation to Web3 industry development – two topics sound not-related, but their common ground might give us the insight on how we could find the development path of Hong Kong.
14 May 2025
Faculty
Gambling with Tariffs: A Losing Proposition for All
Gambling with Tariffs: A Losing Proposition for All
Dr. Maurice K.S. TSE
關稅豪賭  只有輸家 國際貨幣基金組織在上月發表的《世界經濟展望》,將全球經濟增長預測從今年 1 月的 3.3% 顯著調低至 2.8%。報告指出,中國和印度將成為推動全球經濟增長的主要動力,預計未來5年貢獻比例分別為 23%和超過15%;而美國因其關稅政策的不確定性,對全球經濟的貢獻率遭下調至 11.3%。
7 May 2025
Faculty
Dr-Maurice-Tse_2019
About Author
Dr. Maurice K.S. TSE

Principal Lecturer

Tags
Entrepreneurship
Poverty
Sign up for upcoming news and events
LinkedIn WeChat Instagram Facebook Weibo Twitter YouTube

©2025, HKU Business School. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Web Accessibility Statement