The Central Government yesterday notified the Hong Kong SAR Government that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers' Meeting (FMM), originally scheduled to be held in Hong Kong in September, would be rescheduled to take place in Beijing.
At the beginning of the Year of the Horse, such a fine steed as the APEC FMM unexpectedly fails to get off the ground. This is absolutely an inestimable loss for Hong Kong in consolidating its status as an international financial hub, Events Capital of Asia and offshore RMB (renminbi) centre. For, only once in every 20 years China will host the APEC meetings, and only when China is the hosting country could Hong Kong possibly have a chance to share the honour. It is still remembered that, when the Central Government's Ministry of Finance announced in mid-September of last year that the 2014 APEC FMM would be held in Hong Kong, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying joyfully responded:
"Hosting the 2014 APEC Finance Ministers Meeting will further strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international financial centre. The SAR Government attaches great importance to the contributions of Hong Kong as an international financial hub to the SAR's economic development and our country's deepening reform and opening up. I am sure Hong Kong will play good host to the APEC FMM."
Afterwards, the SAR Government set a special task force to start preparatory works, working out a preliminary sketch. In addition to the Convention and Exhibition Centre, the newly inaugurated Kai Tak Cruise Terminal would be another venue for the event. And a Victoria Habour-view dinner would be held for the financial ministers and central bankers of the 20 APEC members in West Kowloon Cultural District or on the Avenue of Stars. Fish balls, custard tarts, egg waffles and Hong Kong-style milk tea were thoughtfully considered as snacks. Some 200 rooms in Hong Kong's most expensive hotels were reserved. Even the Legislative Council (Legco), which always makes things difficult for the government, approved without a hitch the allocation of a special sum of $63 million for the event. However, all such painstaking efforts become in vain and hopes dashed with yesterday's announcement…
Surely, as the spokesman for the SAR Government said, since the Central Government has made its decision, Hong Kong people could only express their respect and understanding. And the Central Government has also explained the change was made because of the rescheduling of the meeting. However, in response to this announcement yesterday, personages from various sectors in Hong Kong society simultaneously mentioned that the Occupy Central movement and "Anti-locust Campaign" had deteriorated Hong Kong's public order and the Central Government might become concerned with it. They felt sorry and regretted that the APEC FMM would not be held in Hong Kong.
Whether such a conjecture is true and grounded has yet to be verified. Nevertheless, it is an obvious and undisputable fact that such anti-China and trouble-making behaviour as Occupy Central and Anti-locust Campaign has posed a serious threat and caused damage to the image and public order of the Hong Kong SAR.
In fact, would anti-China, trouble-making elements and extreme radicals ever let such a trouble-making opportunity slip away if the APEC FMM were to be held in Hong Kong in September 10 – 12 as originally scheduled? Just imagine that, while the financial ministers and central bankers were holding their meetings, Occupy Central would be busy going on with Hong Kong's largest banks, business institutions, government departments and main streets being blocked and besieged, placards being waved and slogans shouted. Police were violently resisted when they tried to enforce law, and there might even be bloody confrontations and riots. Let's ask, could APEC afford such a price and risk? Could Hong Kong afford it? Could the Central Government afford it? Are there any other alternatives than shifting the venue of the meeting?
Likewise, radicals would likely repeat what happened in the shopping area in Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui days ago with their so-called Anti-locust Campaign and do harm to the innocent, harassing and cursing the wives and families of the financial ministers and central bankers attending the APEC FMM. Then, how could the SAR Government possibly shoulder such a heavy responsibility? How could the Central Government possibly bear such a big humiliation?
Facts are before our eyes. The Occupy Central movement, violent Anti-locust Campaign and some individuals' wrong position on the universal suffrage issue that goes against the Basic Law and Central Government have severely damaged the SAR's image before the eyes of the Central Government and Chinese people. The foolish and evil conduct by a minority of people will force all Hong Kong citizens to pay a price for them. Hong Kong's hosting the APEC FMM falls short of success at the last moment. The blame is on the Occupy Central and Anti-locust radicals who do great damage to public order in Hong Kong and relations between the Mainland and SAR. They should be cast aside and condemned by all Hong Kong citizens.
26 February 2014
