民政事務局發言人說：「《條例草案》的目的，是改善現行發牌制度、利便執法行動及加強阻嚇力以打擊無牌酒店及賓館。」政府試圖收緊法例，料今後香港民宿業務將受更加嚴厲的限制，然而市場普遍對政府只顧「打擊非法」卻遲遲不立新法的因循態度表示失望。中文大學學者陳志邦認爲政府應考慮修訂法例容納共享經濟，同時將其引入正途，以配合新經濟模式發展。
早在今年2月23日的《港府故步自封 新經濟冇運行》一文中，筆者已經闡述Airbnb在香港與紐倫星等先進城市在待遇上的不同，證明了港官在共享經濟思維已是史前動物，遠遠落後於其它國際城市。香港政府無視法制創新，反助既得利益者打壓新興競爭的做法，不單使香港在新經濟大放異彩的大時代束手待斃，亦令有志于新業態的投資者及經營者心死。
The Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation (Amendment) Bill 2018 was submitted to the Legislative Council for first reading last week. At the same time, a survey commissioned by Airbnb revealed that 77% of the 800 Hong Kong residents interviewed wanted the Legislative Council to veto the amendments.
A Home Affairs Bureau spokesperson said, "The Bill seeks to improve the existing licensing regime, facilitate enforcement actions and enhance deterrence against unlicensed hotels and guesthouses." As a result, B&Bs in Hong Kong are expected to face stricter regulations in future. However, the market has widely questioned the government’s emphasis on strict compliance with no heed paid to a changed environment due to innovations. A scholar at the CUHK advocated the government to adapt to new economic reality and amend regulations to accommodate the sharing economy, rather than persecute it.
Your author has analyzed the varying fates of Airbnb in New York, London, Singapore and Hong Kong in an earlier article, highlighting how far the governance mindset in Hong Kong has lagged behind other global cities. The government is demonstrating by action that it favours vested interests and protects them from emerging competition. Is it any wonder that more people sense the ever slipping technological advantage that Hong Kong has enjoyed, and that the city is slipping ever further behind in the era of innovation?
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