The whole process of interest rate liberalisation took seven years , starting in october 1994 with the deregulation of interest rates for time deposits of longer - term maturity and ending in july 2001 with the deregulation of interest rates for savings and current account deposits 整个撤销利率管制的过程花了7年时间，由1994年10月撤销较长期限定期存款利率的限制起，至2001年7月撤销储蓄及往来存款利率的限制结束。
Furthermore , competition within the banking sector , encouraged by the programme of deregulation of interest rates , now completed , seems to have benefited borrowers more than depositors although a sound and competitive banking system will , in the long term , benefit both 此外，银行业全面推行撤销利率管制，令业内竞争加剧，暂时使借款人的得益较存户多尽管长远而言，若银行体系运作健全及具备市场竞争，存户及借款人将能同样受惠。
We have , for example , promoted the deregulation of interest rates , and , although this policy may have put some pressure on the profitability of the banks , it has helped to produce what is widely and internationally recognised as one of the most robust banking systems in the world 例如，我们撤销利率管制，可能会使银行盈利受到一些压力，但亦有助巩固本港的银行体系。事实上，本港银行体系的稳健程度已排在全球前列位置，并且得到国际社会的广泛认同。
As the hkma has emphasised on a number of occasions , the deregulation of interest rates will entail not only opportunities but also challenges for the hong kong banking industry . banking competition may intensify after the change and the net interest margin could be affected by a rise in funding costs 正如金管局曾多次强调，撤销利率管制不仅会为银行业带来机会，亦会带来挑战。银行业的竞争可能会加剧，净息差也可能会因为资金成本上涨而受到影响。
