筆者在幾個月前開始,已經開始批評香港政府對於明年自己主辦的東亞運動會毫不重視,恐怕連上屆的澳門東亞運也比今屆辦得更好。繼上個月傳出可能無法籌到足夠資金之後,昨天又爆出了一個壞消息:屯門望后石射擊場未能如期於東亞運舉辦前落成,東亞運射擊項目需要改到面積小得多的南華體育會進行,射擊項目亦由原先計劃的13項被逼大幅削減至僅餘4項。香港政府於2003年成功申辦東亞運,足足有6年時間進行籌備,為何還會出現場地不能落成的情況?分明就是香港政府根本就沒有心去搞。
香港東亞運籌備得如此差劣,是香港政府本身的能力所限嗎?顯然不是。連澳門這樣一個小城市都可以將東亞運搞得有聲有色,可見在香港舉辦東亞運,理應在能力上綽綽有餘(筆者以前更覺得這是大材小用)。看看香港協辦北京奧運馬術比賽,雖然規模當然比不上東亞運,但至少大家看得出香港政府是十分認真對待,用心去籌辦,到最後也沒有出過甚麼問題。為何香港政府對於東亞運的心態可以如此不同?這是因為今次搞得差也不會影響中國大陸的政府的形象嗎?筆者認為當年若果並非東亞多國「畀面」中共政府,它們應該寧願會選擇中華民國的台北市,也不會選擇在上屆舉辦城市澳門旁邊的香港。倘若香港政府真是對東亞運敷衍了事,某程度上也是丟「阿爺」的架。
說回射擊場地的問題,香港政府假如現在願意「補鑊」,也絕對不是沒有可能做到,畢竟現在距離開幕還有11個多月。只要政府願意投放更多資源,增撥更多人手,要火速興建一個射擊場地實在不難去做到,還可順便暫時創造就業。然而政府卻怕麻煩,隨便地選擇一個面積小得多的場地頂替,使整個射擊比賽大幅縮水,順便也進一步節省了一些開支。各位市民可以看到,香港政府究竟對東亞運有多少的重視了。
隨著香港東亞運的舉辦日子逼近,可能再會有更多壞消息出來,不過筆者也不會再感到驚訝,因為已經對香港政府能否辦一個合格的東亞運沒有多少信心。
2 個意見:
I agree with you that the delays and government inefficiency is not due to the lack of capacity. But, rather, it is a matter of will.
The Hong Kong government is not politically controlled, but it is controlled by civil servants, who must justify resource-allocation with economic and financial benefits. Thus, when we are dealing with issues that do not create financial benefits, it is difficult for civil servants to determine the amount of resources to put into such a program. They cannot - and should not - make political decisions, which is the prioritization of social goals. No politician have stated that the East Asian Games should be a priority. Thus, the civil servants can only use financial and economical benefits to prioritize such a project.
The problem boils down to the lack of accountability and legitimacy in the government. None of our Executive members are elected (i.e. possess the legitimacy from the people) and thus, it is actually very risky for them to engage in something that cannot be financially justified. Because they are not elected, they have no incentive to develop big plans to impress the public and to make the people happy. Rather, they only have to make Beijing happy, by making sure that HK people don't go to the streets again like in 1 July 2003.
Re wsyc:
Thank you for your detailed analysis. I argee with you too. The government really has little motivation and incentive to treat the East Asian Games seriously.
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