Innovative businesses 賽車場應扶持非扼殺宜新思維看創意創業

AS this newspaper reported yesterday, two underground or semi--underground small bike racing tracks have been in operation in Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai for some years. The government "controls" them through zoning but doesnothing about their safety or other matters concerningthem. Bike racing there is not regulated. We havepublished the story about those operations not to urgethe government to use its powers to crack down onthem but to call on it to cherish economic vitality thatmay result from citizens' innovations.

Bike racing is quite dangerous. Bike racing racing--relatedaccidents are frequent in the world. Nevertheless, it isclassified as a healthy sport. Many fewer people havetaken up this sport than others. It is hardly popular inHong Kong as the government has never promoted it.Nevertheless, some have risked their money to set upand operate bike racing tracks in Tuen Mun (BlackPoint), Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai. That shows bikeracing facilities are in demand here. This being thecase, it does not meet real needs for the governmentto "control" them by means of its power to zone land. Itshould look at the issue from an "industry" perspective.It is time the government put it on the agenda toconsider introducing a licensing system for regulatingsmall bike racing tracks.

If the government allows investors to run bikeracing tracks on agricultural land in rural areas, notonly will the demand be met for such facilities, buteconomic activity in those places will be encouraged.

Some years ago, many racked their brains to find waysto increase economic activity in Tin Shui Wai so thatresidents could find work in the district. There hasbeen much cry and little wool wool. Now the three "illicit". bike racing tracks do help increase economic activity intheir districts. Their investors are already a few steps infront of the government. The government should obtainlegislation that would require bike racing trackoperators to meet environmental protection, safety anddrainage standards. It can, simply by doing so, kill twobirds - promote bike racing and increase economicactivity in their districts.

A few months ago, some attempted to set uprooftop barbecue venues in downtown areas. As fire isused, safety at such a venue is indeed a concern.

Furthermore, fumes and noises from such a venuemay be a nuisance to people who live near it. Nosooner had bureaucrats called their attempts"outrageous" than they aborted. Nevertheless, itcannot be denied that the idea of operating rooftopbarbecue venues in downtown areas is very innovativeindeed. People who have come up with the idea havetried to start innovative businesses. They should berewarded rather than punished. To bureaucrats, it isconvenient to crack down on activities impermissibleunder the laws in force. They can, if they do so, avoidcarrying the can can. However, if safety and noise. problems of rooftop barbecue venues can besatisfactorily solved, life in Hong Kong would be 3 3--DDrather than just 2 2--D, and the city's landscape willsuddenly become quite different.

Innovations are essential to social progress andeconomic development. However, innovations arelikely to be at odds with rules or regulations in force. Itis not bureaucrats' job to foster economicdevelopment. It is therefore totally understandable forthem to remain in a rut or do things by the book.

However, Hong Kong desperately needs innovationsthat may help make it more colourful and invigorateand diversify its economy. Bureaucrats must changetheir minds. It is important that, even if they are neithercreative nor innovative, they must not rashly stranglechanges that may result from citizens' innovations.Even though they cannot contribute to progress, theymust try not to impede progress. That is whatbureaucrats must bear in mind.

2010.03.03明報社評

賽車場應扶持非扼殺宜新思維看創意創業

本報昨日報道元朗和天水圍兩個小型電單車賽車場，多年來以地下或半地下形式經營，政府除了透過土地規劃「管理」，其他例如安全等，並無法定監管，形成一項「冇王管」的活動。本報披露這兩個賽車場的營運情况，不是要催促政府祭起公權力置他們於死地，而是要政府正視並珍惜民間創意所激發經濟活力。

賽車就全球範圍而言，雖然風險較高，意外頻生，總的來說還是被定義為健康運動，其實際參與人數，與其他運動相比也屬少數。在香港，缺乏政府推動下，賽車運動更是無從談起。但是由本港在屯門龍鼓灘、元朗和天水圍都有人甘冒風險，投下資金，建設和營運賽車場，顯示本港市民對於賽車運動場地有一定需求。在這種情况下，政府僅以土地批出權來「管理」賽車場，肯定未能符合實際需要，以產業角度看待此事，研議透過發牌規管小型賽車場，應該提上政府的議事日程。

批准投資者在鄉郊農地開設、營運賽車場，除了滿足需求，還可以活躍地區經濟。數年前，不少有心人為搞活天水圍經濟、協助當地居民當區工作，出謀劃策，一度雷聲大，雨總是下不來。現在這3個偷偷摸摸營運的賽車場，其實符合搞活地區經濟的目標，投資者已較政府走前幾步，只要政府將之納入規管，制訂法例，要經營者滿足環保、安全、排水等要求，就可以達到推動賽車運動、又符合搞活地區經濟的目標。

數月前，有人曾經嘗試在鬧區大廈的天台，營運燒烤場地，由於涉及火器，安全隱患確實是大問題，另外燒烤所衍生油膩和噪音對周遭居民影響，也是問題，官僚一個「可怒也」，這個嘗試就夭折。但是不能否認，在鬧市大廈天台開設燒烤場，極具創意，想到這個點子的人，以創新來創業，應該得到讚賞而非懲罰。對於官僚而言，封殺了現行法規條例未容許的「創意」經營，當然最方便，又不會「孭鑊」，但是試想，若天台燒烤的安全、噪音等技術問題能夠找到妥善辦法處理，則香港社會的生活不再停留在平面，而是立體起來，整體城市景觀頓時不一樣。

推動社會進步、發展經濟，離不開創意、創新，而創意創新則經常與現行規定有所扞格，官僚的角色和職能，並無推動經濟發展的責任，因此官僚因循、按本子辦事，完全可以理解。但是香港亟需創意創新，刺激經濟活力，使經濟更趨多元化，為香港增添色彩，官僚們需要換腦袋了。最重要的是：官僚即使沒有創意、不懂創新，也不要輕易就扼殺了市民的創意創新可能帶來改變。縱使不成為進步的助力，也不要成為進步的阻力──這是官僚需要緊記的。

Glossary

much cry and little wool

If there is much cry and little wool, there is adisturbance but little is achieved.

carry the can

accept the blame for something.

impede //IImm''pi:d/

make slow by obstructing, hinder.