政壇：睇社論學英文：討好民粹改評級 政府積弱管治難

現屆政府近日展現硬朗作風，處理幾個具爭議性的議題，均企硬拒絕妥協，似乎想一洗七月上任以來遇事退縮、委曲求全的頹風。政務司司長林鄭月娥聲稱要做「強勢領袖」，行政會議召集人林煥光則認為政府不應被反對派牽着鼻子走。可惜言猶在耳，港府處理政府山西座重建問題，又流露屈從民粹，不惜朝令夕改的傾向。

政府山西座的保育問題曾經鬧得沸沸揚揚，關注團體要求將東、中、西三座建築全部保留，港府則提出拆卸西座，重建為三十二層高商廈。古物諮詢委員會今年六月亦通過將西座暫評為保留價值較低的二級歷史建築，為港府的重建方案開綠燈。事隔僅數月，古諮會主席透露，基於公眾諮詢期間有九成意見支持西座列為一級歷史建築，預計古諮會本月內開會討論評級，委員將西座升級保留的機會極高；發展局亦保證，在古諮會未評級、城規會未處理相關申請之前，港府不會展開任何重建程序。

古諮會事先張揚提高政府山西座評級，堪稱政府施政屈從民粹的縮影。未來五年，政府管治勢被民粹陰乾，香港逐漸邊緣化，所謂「穩中求變，適度有為」，不知從何說起。

The Government betrays its weakness again by changing the grading of a historic building in order to please the people

Recently, by adopting an uncompromising stand toward a number of controversial issues, the Government appears to be trying to improve its poor image. The public is left with an impression that the Government has been flinching from difficulties and making concessions to achieve its aims ever since the beginning of its term in July. The Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam states that she will be a "strong leader". The Convener of the Executive Council Lam Woon-kwong thinks that the Government should not let the opposition lead it by the nose. Unfortunately, while these words were still ringing in the people's ears, the Government bent to populism again and made a U-turn on the redevelopment of the former Central Government Offices' （CGO） West Wing.

The preservation of the CGO has aroused a hubbub in society. Concerned groups asked that the East Wing, Main Wing and West Wing be retained in their entireties. The Government proposed to demolish the West Wing and build a 32-storey commercial building on the site. In June this year, the Antiquities Advisory Board （AAB） recommended to accord a proposed Grade 2 status to the West Wing, meaning that it had less preservation value. This was tantamount to giving a green light to the Government's redevelopment proposal. A mere few months later, the AAB Chairman said that, since 90% of the public consultation respondents supported that the West Wing be classified as Grade 1 historic building, he expected the AAB members would very likely accord a higher grading to the West Wing at their meeting this month. The Development Bureau has also assured that no redevelopment procedure would start before the AAB decides on the grading and the Town Planning Board processes the relevant application.

The AAB made public the possible upgrading of the West Wing even before its meeting. It can be regarded as an epitome of the Government's bending to populism. In the next five years, a Government stifled by populism will bring about the gradual marginalization of Hong Kong. Where is that "appropriately proactive government which seeks change while maintaining stability" the Chief Executive depicted in his inauguration speech?

重要生字

flinch from difficulties 遇事退縮

lead someone by the nose 牽着（某人的）鼻子走

the words are still ringing in one's ears 言猶在耳