But Andrew Tsuei, Executive Director of the Union Group of Companies, while agreeing with Siew's metaphor, thinks the government can use financial and other incentives to act as "pumps" to rechannel the "water." Possible alternative routes could include lifting restrictions on trade with Eastern Europe and opening trade discussions with Western Europe. But this strategy cannot be a permanent solution.
友利相關事業總經理崔中非常同意蕭萬長的「水流理論」，但他認為，政府只要裝設「加壓站」、舖上「水管」﹘﹘利用租稅減免、優惠貸款等辦法來誘導，並解除和東歐國家不能通匯的規定、建立和西歐貿易溝通的管道… …，水（廠商）仍可能往高處流。