中央政府突然通知港府，將原定今年九月在港召開的亞太經合組織財長會議改在北京舉行，據說原因是會議數量多，牽涉面廣，為了銜接會務安排，須調整部分會期。實際上，政治原因恐怕多於一切。

早在去年九月，港府宣布獲國家財政部委託主辦今次財長會議，期望有助鞏固和提升香港的國際金融中心地位。香港具備大型國際會議經驗，當年世貿部長級會議雖然受到韓農示威衝擊，警隊仍能控制場面。今次受委託前應已進行風險評估，為何短短幾個月後，中央寧願被指朝令夕改，也要收回財長會議主辦權呢？

事實上，今年是香港政改最關鍵的一年，反對派策動的佔中行動蓄勢待發，可能演成近年最大規模街頭抗爭活動。再說，近日針對內地旅客的行動浪接浪，鼓吹「本土主義」和「港獨」意識，這些挑戰中央權威及「一國兩制」底線的活動，一旦趁財長會議再度上演，試問中央顏面何存？

香港失落財長會議主辦權，絕不是孤立事件，而是社會泛政治化的必然結果，今次是否中央調整對港政策的第一步，不妨拭目以待。

Internal political strife has cost Hong Kong an APEC meeting

The Central People's Government suddenly informed the Hong Kong government that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation（APEC）finance ministers' meeting, originally scheduled to be held in our city in September, will be moved to Beijing. The purported reason for the change is that the logistics in the arrangement of the large number of all-involving meetings requires it. In reality, the true cause may be more political than anything else.

In as early as September last year, our government announced that the Ministry of Finance had entrusted Hong Kong with hosting the APEC finance ministers' meeting, with the hope of consolidating and enhancing the city's status as an international financial centre. Hong Kong does have the experience of hosting large-scale international meetings. When the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference was held here, the Korean farmers' vigorous demonstrations were well under control of our police. Before being offered the job this time, risk assessments had already been conducted. After only a few months, how come the Central People's Government suddenly takes back the right to host the event, even when it may be criticized for its abrupt reversal in decision-making?

Actually, this is the most important year for Hong Kong's constitutional development. The oppositionists' Occupy Central movement is all poised to take off and it may evolve into the biggest street protest in recent years. Moreover, recently we have seen waves of anti-Mainland-visitors movements that agitate for “localism” and “Hong Kong independence”. These acts are challenging the Central's authority as well as the bottom line of “one country two systems”. Should they be repeated during the finance ministers' meeting, the Central People's Government would feel it loses face.

Hong Kong's loss of the right to host the APEC meeting is definitely not an isolated incident. It is the doomed consequence of the pan-politicization of our society. Is this the first step of the Central's policy adjustment toward Hong Kong? Let us wait and see.

重要生字

internal political strife 政治內耗

abrupt reversal in decision-making 朝令夕改

pan-politicization 泛政治化

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