2017年11月29日 星期三

排查隱患變驅逐窮人 治理現代化體恤為先

<轉載自20171129 明報 社評>

北京大興區一場奪命大火,事後市政府展開安全隱患排查,理應是為民設想,可是當局處理違章建築手法粗暴,實際效果形同驅逐清貧外來人,惹來「清洗低端人口」質疑,反映施政未有以人為本。官僚平日未有切實處理違規問題,出了亂子後擔心問責追究,急忙應對,不理後果,層層下壓,執行過火,激起民怨才知亡羊補牢,這經驗教訓必須好好汲取。民生事務必須以體恤為先,不能粗枝大葉。國家主席習近平提出「國家治理體制和治理能力現代化」,看來還有一段相當長的路要走。

未理清貧外鄉人苦况 不要這種「中國速度」

中國改革開放接近40年,發展之快舉世驚訝,「中國速度」之說不脛而走,不少西方官員專家也大感興趣。「中國速度」有些值得欣賞,有些不敢恭維。今次北京「排查隱患」風波,就不禁令人質疑當局是否只講效率,不理清貧外來人口苦况。放眼世界城市發展歷史,貧民窟往往伴隨現代化而來,不少外來人口持續湧向大城市尋找工作機會,為求省吃儉用,只好聚居貧民窟。雖然內地政府「不容許」貧民窟存在,惟不代表沒有類似問題。

隨着北京等一線大城市地鐵網絡日趨完善,很多清貧外來人口紛紛寄居市郊周邊地區。北京大興區、朝陽區等屬於這類城鄉結合的社區,居於當地的清貧外來人,大多是在北京幹外賣、速遞、清潔和地盤工等粗活。他們平日往返北京上班,月入可能只得數千元人民幣,無法應付市區租金,市郊劏房式單位,月租則只需千多元,只要辛勤打拼,仍可有點儲蓄;對於北京市政府來說,清貧外來人口是重要廉價勞動力,負責本地人不太願意從事的工作。

近年北京銳意「疏散」首都以外的功能,強化作為全國政治、文化、國際交往和科技創新中心,城區批發市場、傳統製造業等低端產業,都在「疏散」之列,這次北京當局被質疑假借「排查違規建築」之名,清退所謂「外來低端人口」,原因亦在於此。

外來廉價勞動人口與北京市發展,早已形成一種共生關係,北京市政府理應知之甚詳,沒理由搬石頭砸自己的腳,可是當局今次排查行動太過粗暴拙劣,執行人員半夜突襲,斷水斷電,亂砸亂踹,大批民眾流離失所。雖然當局矢口否認「藉機清理低端人口」,可是民眾耳聞目睹,都是清貧外來工人的慘况,豈有不把矛頭指向當局之理?

妥善處理外來清貧人口,從來不是易事。曾幾何時,在紐約貧民窟生活的小童,會被扣上「未來罪犯」標籤;在倫敦,大批工人蝸居市郊貧民窟「劏房」,也被視為「準罪犯」(semi-criminal )。倫敦當局曾以開路、改善衛生等名義,將大量貧民窟夷平,驅趕貧民數以萬計。直至後來倫敦和紐約當局興建公共房屋,安置貧民窟窮人,逐步取締貧民窟,問題才得以解決。當前北京的問題,就是配套跟不上,未能提供足夠租金廉宜公共房屋,加上戶籍問題,令到清貧外鄉人變相遭到排斥。

回應民情意識漸抬頭 「關注民情威權」有局限

城市管理工作需要細緻化和人性化,任何影響民生的重大措施,必須多考慮緩衝期和善後安排。眼見近日民情憤慨,北京市政府亡羊補牢,強調行動要有「人文關懷」,又組織招聘活動,安置受影響民眾,總算是一件好事,反映回應民情意識抬頭。

若以政府是否一人一票產生,將所有政體二分為「民主」或「威權/專制」政體,內地當然屬於後者,然而不少學者亦意識到,過度簡化的「民主」「威權」二元觀念,除了起到意識形態標籤作用外,對於了解每個國家狀况和變化,並沒有多少幫助,就算同屬威權政體,差異也可以極大。為了掌握中國政治制度和管治模式變化,近年西方學者搬出不少政治概念,諸如官僚威權主義、務實威權主義、軟威權主義等等,美國學者Christopher Heurlin就提出了「關注民情威權主義」(Responsive Authoritarianism)。他指出,內地遷拆問題引發過不少示威,惟政府並非一味鐵腕鎮壓,事後其實作出了很多政策調整,處理示威者的怨憤。

習近平上台後,提出「國家治理體系和治理能力現代化」,強調以人為本。加強回應民眾訴求,顯然是改革方向重點。觀乎今次「排查隱患」風波,北京當局事後的「補鑊」處理,某程度反映管治者不敢漠視民情反彈,惟亦突出了「關注民情威權管治」的局限﹕內地官僚對於民情的回應和關注,往往流於被動,決策思慮不周,執行粗枝大葉,出了大事才亡羊補牢。內地治理體系要以人為本,體察民情必須更加主動,對弱勢群體要有更多體恤,否則類似今次的民生治理風波,還將陸續上演。

Beijing evicting poor migrants

IN the wake of a deadly fire in the Daxing district of Beijing, the municipal government has launched a campaign supposedly for the sake of people to identify and remove hidden safety hazards. But city authorities have carried out the measures against illegal structures in such a forceful manner that it was essentially no different from evicting poor migrants, which has resulted in allegations of a "clean-up campaign against the low-end population". All this has pointed to a lack of a people-oriented mindset in the implementation of policies. City bureaucrats failed to address the issue of illegal housing on normal days. Only after the mishap did they hastily take some corresponding measures out of worries that they would be held accountable for wrongdoing. But the action was taken in a rash, top-down, over-the-top and short-sighted manner, triggering a public outcry so loud that authorities finally realised they had to find remedies. This is indeed a big lesson to learn.

Aiming to strengthen Beijing's role as the centre of China's politics, culture, international communication and technological innovation, in recent years its authorities have determined to phase out its non-capital functions including low-end industrial sectors like urban wholesale markets and conventional manufacturing. This is the underlying reason of the alleged driving out of the so-called "low-end immigrants" in the name of "identifying and eliminating illegal structures". However, the way of pushing the campaign forward has been too rude and callous, with reports of midnight raids by enforcement officials, cutting off of water and electricity supplies, dwellers' possessions smashed and trampled on, droves of people losing home overnight. Even though city authorities have denied they were "seizing the opportunity to toss out the low-end population", what the general public has seen and heard was all plight of the poor migrants. Under such circumstances, how can one not take aim at the government?

Noticing the surging outcry, the municipal government has tried to remedy the situation by playing up the "humanistic care" aspect of the campaign and organising job fairs to accommodate people affected. At long last, this should be seen as a positive posture reflecting the heightening awareness of authorities to respond to public opinion.

If we take the "one person one vote" standard as the yardstick by which to divide all forms of governments into democracies and autocracies, mainland China naturally falls into the latter category. However, many scholars have noted that such a dichotomous view of governments only carries an effect of ideology labelling but helps little in terms of understanding the circumstances and changes in each country. In fact, even countries belonging to the same category of authoritarianism can exhibit wide variability. In order to grasp the changes in the political system and governance model of China, American scholar Christopher Heurlin has put forth the concept of "Responsive Authoritarianism". Talking about the frequent occurrence of protests sparked by housing demolition in China, he points out that the government has not been invariably showing an iron fist approach. In fact, in many cases authorities have implemented policy adjustments afterwards in response to the rage of protesters.

The remedial action taken by authorities following the current storm over the "hazard elimination campaign" has reflected to a certain degree that the administration side dares not ignore the public uproar. But the case has also highlighted the limit of "Responsive Authoritarianism" in mainland China — the responses made by bureaucrats to address public sentiment often tend to be passive. They lack thoughtfulness when deciding policies and pay no attention to detail in implementation, only to scramble for remedies after something serious has gone wrong. The governance system of the mainland should be founded on people and more proaction is needed in gauging public sentiment. More compassion should be shown towards the underprivileged communities. Otherwise, similar controversies about government policies concerning people's livelihood will continue to come up.

排查隱患變驅逐窮人 治理現代化體恤為先

北京大興區一場奪命大火,事後市政府展開安全隱患排查,理應是為民設想,可是當局處理違章建築手法粗暴,實際效果形同驅逐清貧外來人,惹來「清洗低端人口」質疑,反映施政未有以人為本。官僚平日未有切實處理違規問題,出了亂子後擔心問責追究,急忙應對,不理後果,層層下壓,執行過火,激起民怨才知亡羊補牢,這經驗教訓必須好好汲取。

近年北京銳意「疏散」首都以外的功能,強化作為全國政治、文化、國際交往和科技創新中心,城區批發市場、傳統製造業等低端產業,都在「疏散」之列,這次北京當局被質疑假借「排查違規建築」之名,清退所謂「外來低端人口」,原因亦在於此。可是當局今次排查行動太過粗暴拙劣,執行人員半夜突襲,斷水斷電,亂砸亂踹,大批民眾流離失所。雖然當局矢口否認「藉機清理低端人口」,可是民眾耳聞目睹,都是清貧外來工人的慘况,豈有不把矛頭指向當局之理?

眼見近日民情憤慨,北京市政府亡羊補牢,強調行動要有「人文關懷」,又組織招聘活動,安置受影響民眾,總算是一件好事,反映回應民情意識抬頭。

若以政府是否一人一票產生,將所有政體二分為「民主」或「威權/專制」政體,內地當然屬於後者,然而不少學者亦意識到,過度簡化的「民主」「威權」二元觀念,除了起到意識形態標籤作用外,對於了解每個國家狀况和變化,並沒有多少幫助,就算同屬威權政體,差異也可以極大。為了掌握中國政治制度和管治模式變化,美國學者Christopher Heurlin就提出「關注民情威權主義」的概念。他指出,內地遷拆問題引發過不少示威,惟政府並非一味鐵腕鎮壓,事後其實作出了很多政策調整,處理示威者的怨憤。

觀乎今次「排查隱患」風波,北京當局事後的「補鑊」處理,某程度反映管治者不敢漠視民情反彈,惟亦突出了「關注民情威權管治」的局限:內地官僚對於民情的回應和關注,往往流於被動,決策思慮不周,執行粗枝大葉,出了大事才亡羊補牢。內地治理體系要以人為本,體察民情必須更加主動,對弱勢群體要有更多體恤,否則類似今次的民生治理風波,還將陸續上演。

排查隱患變驅逐窮人 治理現代化體恤為先

<轉載自20171129 明報 社評>

北京大興區一場奪命大火,事後市政府展開安全隱患排查,理應是為民設想,可是當局處理違章建築手法粗暴,實際效果形同驅逐清貧外來人,惹來「清洗低端人口」質疑,反映施政未有以人為本。官僚平日未有切實處理違規問題,出了亂子後擔心問責追究,急忙應對,不理後果,層層下壓,執行過火,激起民怨才知亡羊補牢,這經驗教訓必須好好汲取。民生事務必須以體恤為先,不能粗枝大葉。國家主席習近平提出「國家治理體制和治理能力現代化」,看來還有一段相當長的路要走。

未理清貧外鄉人苦况 不要這種「中國速度」

中國改革開放接近40年,發展之快舉世驚訝,「中國速度」之說不脛而走,不少西方官員專家也大感興趣。「中國速度」有些值得欣賞,有些不敢恭維。今次北京「排查隱患」風波,就不禁令人質疑當局是否只講效率,不理清貧外來人口苦况。放眼世界城市發展歷史,貧民窟往往伴隨現代化而來,不少外來人口持續湧向大城市尋找工作機會,為求省吃儉用,只好聚居貧民窟。雖然內地政府「不容許」貧民窟存在,惟不代表沒有類似問題。

隨着北京等一線大城市地鐵網絡日趨完善,很多清貧外來人口紛紛寄居市郊周邊地區。北京大興區、朝陽區等屬於這類城鄉結合的社區,居於當地的清貧外來人,大多是在北京幹外賣、速遞、清潔和地盤工等粗活。他們平日往返北京上班,月入可能只得數千元人民幣,無法應付市區租金,市郊劏房式單位,月租則只需千多元,只要辛勤打拼,仍可有點儲蓄;對於北京市政府來說,清貧外來人口是重要廉價勞動力,負責本地人不太願意從事的工作。

近年北京銳意「疏散」首都以外的功能,強化作為全國政治、文化、國際交往和科技創新中心,城區批發市場、傳統製造業等低端產業,都在「疏散」之列,這次北京當局被質疑假借「排查違規建築」之名,清退所謂「外來低端人口」,原因亦在於此。

外來廉價勞動人口與北京市發展,早已形成一種共生關係,北京市政府理應知之甚詳,沒理由搬石頭砸自己的腳,可是當局今次排查行動太過粗暴拙劣,執行人員半夜突襲,斷水斷電,亂砸亂踹,大批民眾流離失所。雖然當局矢口否認「藉機清理低端人口」,可是民眾耳聞目睹,都是清貧外來工人的慘况,豈有不把矛頭指向當局之理?

妥善處理外來清貧人口,從來不是易事。曾幾何時,在紐約貧民窟生活的小童,會被扣上「未來罪犯」標籤;在倫敦,大批工人蝸居市郊貧民窟「劏房」,也被視為「準罪犯」(semi-criminal )。倫敦當局曾以開路、改善衛生等名義,將大量貧民窟夷平,驅趕貧民數以萬計。直至後來倫敦和紐約當局興建公共房屋,安置貧民窟窮人,逐步取締貧民窟,問題才得以解決。當前北京的問題,就是配套跟不上,未能提供足夠租金廉宜公共房屋,加上戶籍問題,令到清貧外鄉人變相遭到排斥。

回應民情意識漸抬頭 「關注民情威權」有局限

城市管理工作需要細緻化和人性化,任何影響民生的重大措施,必須多考慮緩衝期和善後安排。眼見近日民情憤慨,北京市政府亡羊補牢,強調行動要有「人文關懷」,又組織招聘活動,安置受影響民眾,總算是一件好事,反映回應民情意識抬頭。

若以政府是否一人一票產生,將所有政體二分為「民主」或「威權/專制」政體,內地當然屬於後者,然而不少學者亦意識到,過度簡化的「民主」「威權」二元觀念,除了起到意識形態標籤作用外,對於了解每個國家狀况和變化,並沒有多少幫助,就算同屬威權政體,差異也可以極大。為了掌握中國政治制度和管治模式變化,近年西方學者搬出不少政治概念,諸如官僚威權主義、務實威權主義、軟威權主義等等,美國學者Christopher Heurlin就提出了「關注民情威權主義」(Responsive Authoritarianism)。他指出,內地遷拆問題引發過不少示威,惟政府並非一味鐵腕鎮壓,事後其實作出了很多政策調整,處理示威者的怨憤。

習近平上台後,提出「國家治理體系和治理能力現代化」,強調以人為本。加強回應民眾訴求,顯然是改革方向重點。觀乎今次「排查隱患」風波,北京當局事後的「補鑊」處理,某程度反映管治者不敢漠視民情反彈,惟亦突出了「關注民情威權管治」的局限﹕內地官僚對於民情的回應和關注,往往流於被動,決策思慮不周,執行粗枝大葉,出了大事才亡羊補牢。內地治理體系要以人為本,體察民情必須更加主動,對弱勢群體要有更多體恤,否則類似今次的民生治理風波,還將陸續上演。

Beijing evicting poor migrants

IN the wake of a deadly fire in the Daxing district of Beijing, the municipal government has launched a campaign supposedly for the sake of people to identify and remove hidden safety hazards. But city authorities have carried out the measures against illegal structures in such a forceful manner that it was essentially no different from evicting poor migrants, which has resulted in allegations of a "clean-up campaign against the low-end population". All this has pointed to a lack of a people-oriented mindset in the implementation of policies. City bureaucrats failed to address the issue of illegal housing on normal days. Only after the mishap did they hastily take some corresponding measures out of worries that they would be held accountable for wrongdoing. But the action was taken in a rash, top-down, over-the-top and short-sighted manner, triggering a public outcry so loud that authorities finally realised they had to find remedies. This is indeed a big lesson to learn.

Aiming to strengthen Beijing's role as the centre of China's politics, culture, international communication and technological innovation, in recent years its authorities have determined to phase out its non-capital functions including low-end industrial sectors like urban wholesale markets and conventional manufacturing. This is the underlying reason of the alleged driving out of the so-called "low-end immigrants" in the name of "identifying and eliminating illegal structures". However, the way of pushing the campaign forward has been too rude and callous, with reports of midnight raids by enforcement officials, cutting off of water and electricity supplies, dwellers' possessions smashed and trampled on, droves of people losing home overnight. Even though city authorities have denied they were "seizing the opportunity to toss out the low-end population", what the general public has seen and heard was all plight of the poor migrants. Under such circumstances, how can one not take aim at the government?

Noticing the surging outcry, the municipal government has tried to remedy the situation by playing up the "humanistic care" aspect of the campaign and organising job fairs to accommodate people affected. At long last, this should be seen as a positive posture reflecting the heightening awareness of authorities to respond to public opinion.

If we take the "one person one vote" standard as the yardstick by which to divide all forms of governments into democracies and autocracies, mainland China naturally falls into the latter category. However, many scholars have noted that such a dichotomous view of governments only carries an effect of ideology labelling but helps little in terms of understanding the circumstances and changes in each country. In fact, even countries belonging to the same category of authoritarianism can exhibit wide variability. In order to grasp the changes in the political system and governance model of China, American scholar Christopher Heurlin has put forth the concept of "Responsive Authoritarianism". Talking about the frequent occurrence of protests sparked by housing demolition in China, he points out that the government has not been invariably showing an iron fist approach. In fact, in many cases authorities have implemented policy adjustments afterwards in response to the rage of protesters.

The remedial action taken by authorities following the current storm over the "hazard elimination campaign" has reflected to a certain degree that the administration side dares not ignore the public uproar. But the case has also highlighted the limit of "Responsive Authoritarianism" in mainland China — the responses made by bureaucrats to address public sentiment often tend to be passive. They lack thoughtfulness when deciding policies and pay no attention to detail in implementation, only to scramble for remedies after something serious has gone wrong. The governance system of the mainland should be founded on people and more proaction is needed in gauging public sentiment. More compassion should be shown towards the underprivileged communities. Otherwise, similar controversies about government policies concerning people's livelihood will continue to come up.

排查隱患變驅逐窮人 治理現代化體恤為先

北京大興區一場奪命大火,事後市政府展開安全隱患排查,理應是為民設想,可是當局處理違章建築手法粗暴,實際效果形同驅逐清貧外來人,惹來「清洗低端人口」質疑,反映施政未有以人為本。官僚平日未有切實處理違規問題,出了亂子後擔心問責追究,急忙應對,不理後果,層層下壓,執行過火,激起民怨才知亡羊補牢,這經驗教訓必須好好汲取。

近年北京銳意「疏散」首都以外的功能,強化作為全國政治、文化、國際交往和科技創新中心,城區批發市場、傳統製造業等低端產業,都在「疏散」之列,這次北京當局被質疑假借「排查違規建築」之名,清退所謂「外來低端人口」,原因亦在於此。可是當局今次排查行動太過粗暴拙劣,執行人員半夜突襲,斷水斷電,亂砸亂踹,大批民眾流離失所。雖然當局矢口否認「藉機清理低端人口」,可是民眾耳聞目睹,都是清貧外來工人的慘况,豈有不把矛頭指向當局之理?

眼見近日民情憤慨,北京市政府亡羊補牢,強調行動要有「人文關懷」,又組織招聘活動,安置受影響民眾,總算是一件好事,反映回應民情意識抬頭。

若以政府是否一人一票產生,將所有政體二分為「民主」或「威權/專制」政體,內地當然屬於後者,然而不少學者亦意識到,過度簡化的「民主」「威權」二元觀念,除了起到意識形態標籤作用外,對於了解每個國家狀况和變化,並沒有多少幫助,就算同屬威權政體,差異也可以極大。為了掌握中國政治制度和管治模式變化,美國學者Christopher Heurlin就提出「關注民情威權主義」的概念。他指出,內地遷拆問題引發過不少示威,惟政府並非一味鐵腕鎮壓,事後其實作出了很多政策調整,處理示威者的怨憤。

觀乎今次「排查隱患」風波,北京當局事後的「補鑊」處理,某程度反映管治者不敢漠視民情反彈,惟亦突出了「關注民情威權管治」的局限:內地官僚對於民情的回應和關注,往往流於被動,決策思慮不周,執行粗枝大葉,出了大事才亡羊補牢。內地治理體系要以人為本,體察民情必須更加主動,對弱勢群體要有更多體恤,否則類似今次的民生治理風波,還將陸續上演。

2017年11月27日 星期一

反腐不應政治掛帥 依法治國不枉不縱

<轉載自20171127 明報 社評>

中共中央宣傳部副部長魯煒上周「涉嫌嚴重違紀」接受調查,成為中共十九大之後「落馬」的首名正部級官員。由於他曾任中央網絡安全和信息化領導小組辦公室(中央網信辦)主任,是中國互聯網的「大總管」,此事在海內外引起了廣泛議論。從中紀委及官方傳媒發出的言論看,魯煒垮台雖然一定有涉及金錢的貪腐因素,但主要原因,還是政治上出了問題。

嚴控網絡並非個人行為 反腐肅貪突出政治問題

《中國紀檢監察報》對魯煒落馬的評論文章明確指出,「他的落馬讓人聯想到今年上半年中央巡視組對中央網信辦開展的『機動式』巡視」,又指「不要以為昨天犯的事今天就無人再問,不要以為自己能夠捂着蓋着相安無事,該領受的懲罰遲早會來」。這也就明示,魯煒落馬事關其任中央網信辦主任時的行為。

魯煒自2013年擔任內地互聯網大總管的3年期間,當局對互聯網管控日漸加強,不僅封鎖境外網站,嚴格審查過濾網絡內容,網上言論尺度也不斷收緊,打擊網絡大V等意見領袖的「清網行動」,更招來國際詬病,引發網民批評。不過,自從他去年6月卸任中央網信辦主任以後,內地互聯網管控並未有絲毫放鬆,反而變本加厲,可見魯煒時期的嚴刑峻法,並非其個人行為。

今年6月,中央巡視組就在巡視後指中央網信辦貫徹落實中共總書記習近平指示和工作要求「不夠堅決、不夠及時」、「政治責任感不強,落實中央網信工作重大決策部署不夠到位」、「政治擔當缺失」、「維護政治安全不夠有力」、「政治生態不良,存在『小圈子』問題」等。由此可見,「政治問題」才是魯煒今次落馬受查的主因。

去年以來,中共在查處涉及貪腐高官時,愈來愈多地突出「政治問題」,在查處全國政協前常務副秘書長孫懷山、天津市前代理書記黃興國、遼寧省委前書記王珉、北京市委前副書記呂錫文等人的通報中,都出現了「嚴重違反政治紀律和政治規矩」、「妄議中央」等字眼。十九大期間,中證監主席劉士余在發言中,更公開批前兩任重慶市委書記薄熙來和孫政才、中央政法委前書記周永康、全國政協前副主席令計劃、兩名中央軍委前副主席徐才厚和郭伯雄等人「陰謀篡黨奪權」,令人「觸目驚心」 。在中共十九大展覽中,上述高官的被查處也被形容為「消除重大政治隱患」。

回顧歷史,自中共建政頭40年的歷次運動中,受整肅高官都以政治罪名被罷黜。從高崗、劉少奇到林彪、「四人幫」,從華國鋒到胡耀邦、趙紫陽,無不如是。但自從八九六四後,中共對高官的整肅不再控以政治罪名,從北京市委前書記陳希同,到上海市委前書記陳良宇,以至後來的薄熙來、周永康、徐才厚、郭伯雄、令計劃等人,官方對外公布的罪名都是貪污受賄瀆職等刑事罪名,反映中共力圖淡化黨內鬥爭的政治色彩。

講政治勿干擾法律程序 陽光下才可獲長久支持

但自去年起,內地又開始強調對貪官的政治指控,如指控孫政才的「六宗罪」就包括「喪失政治立場,嚴重踐踏黨的政治紀律和政治規矩」、「講排場、搞特權」、「選人用人唯親唯利,泄露組織秘密」、「官僚主義嚴重,庸懶無為」等政治指控。

值得注意的是,一直被視為中共反腐利器的中央巡視組,近年也將巡視重點轉向「黨內政治生活」,去年以來,巡視組到一些省區市「回頭看」後,就指天津市「思想政治建設薄弱,少數黨員幹部理想信念喪失,不信馬列信鬼神」,遼寧省「一些領導幹部肆無忌憚拉幫結派,不同程度存在『小圈子』、搞『幫派』現象」,廣西則被指「落實中央重大決策部署不到位,扶貧脫困存在數據失真、項目不準」。

中央巡視組在對高校的巡視,也把重點放在「是不是在思想上政治上和行動上同以習近平為核心的黨中央保持高度一致?是不是把思想政治工作貫穿教育教學全過程?是不是認真落實民主生活會、民主評議黨員、談心談話等制度?」等方面。

從政治上打倒到反腐肅貪刑事化,反映的是「去政治化」的傾向,現在由反經濟腐敗向反政治腐敗傾斜,反映了中共仍然是一個「講政治」的政黨。不提政治罪名時不等於背後沒有政治,現在將政治因素擺上枱面應該更增加透明度。只不過,政治正確是中共的「家事」,在強調依法治國、依規治黨的今天,人們希望對貪官的懲處不應忽略法律程序,以事實為依據,以法律為準繩,勿枉勿縱,切忌因政治因素干擾法律的實施。反腐肅貪在陽光下進行,讓人民大眾感受到法律的威懾力的同時,也感受到法律的公平正義,如此,才能讓國人對反貪腐風暴保持信心,贏得長久的支持。

Politics should take back seat in campaign against corruption

LU WEI, the former deputy head of the propaganda department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), was under investigation last week for "his serious alleged irregularities". The matter has provoked widespread discussion at home and abroad given the fact that Lu was formerly the head of the General Office of the Central Leading Group for Internet Security and Informatization (GOCLGISI). Judging from what has been said by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and official media outlets, the downfall of Lu must have to do with corruption, in which pecuniary advantages must have been involved, but it is primarily down to his political mistakes.

During Lu's three-year tenure as mainland China's Internet tsar, which began in 2013, the authorities' censorship of the internet was stepped up. Not only were websites from outside China blocked and posts on the net heavily censored, but freedom of speech on the internet was also being ceaselessly curtailed. The "cleaning-up of the internet", the campaign against key opinion leaders (the so-called "Big Vs"), was castigated by the international community and criticised by netizens. However, even though Lu stepped down from his GOCLGISI post in June last year, in no sense has internet censorship in mainland China been loosened since then, but it has instead gone even further and further. It can thus be seen that the draconian measures implemented during Lu's reign were not just his own policy.

In June this year, after a tour of inspection of the GOCLGISI, the Central Leading Group for Inspection Work commented that the General Office was "not resolute and prompt enough" when implementing the instructions and requirements of Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the CPC, that "its sense of political responsibility was not strong enough, and it fell short of implementing the major decisions and plans of the central government regarding internet security and informatization", that "it lacks political commitment", that "it is not strong enough in maintaining political security", that "its political ecology is undesirable, and problems like 'small circles' persist". It is clear that "political mistakes" are the main reason why Lu has been removed from his post and is being investigated.

History shows that during the various movements that took place in the first forty years after the CPC came to power, high-ranking officials that were disciplined were invariably dismissed for political crimes. That was the case for Gao Geng, Liu Xiaoqi, Lin Biao, the "Gang of Four", Hua Guofeng, Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang. Since the June Fourth Incident in 1989, however, the CPC had not charged high-ranking officials with political crimes when they disciplined them. From Chen Xitong, the former party chief of Beijing and Chen Liangyu, the former party chief of Shanghai, to Bo Xilai, Zhou Yongkang, Xu Caihou, Go Boxiong, Ling Jihua who were targeted later, the charges brought to them as announced by the authorities were all criminal offences such as corruption, acceptance of bribes or failure to do one's duties, showing the CPC's attempt to play down the political overtones of the struggles within the party.

The transition from the political removal of officials to the criminalisation of corruption showed a tendency towards "depoliticisation". But the shift of focus from the campaign against financial corruption to the campaign against political corruption demonstrates the fact that the CPC remains a political party that prioritises politics. Back when political crimes were not mentioned, it was not necessary the case that politics did not play a part. Now that political factors have taken a front seat, more transparency is necessary. However, political correctness should only be an internal matter for the CPC. At a time when it is emphasised that the country should be run in accordance with the law and the CPC should be run in accordance with its regulations, people are hoping to see that the due process of law is not neglected when punishments are meted out to corrupt officials. The punishments should be based on facts and guided by the law. The guilty should not escape punishment, nor should the innocent get punished. The enforcement of the law should not be interfered by political factors. The campaign against corruption should be conducted in a transparent manner so as to keep the Chinese people confident about it and win their long-time support for it.

反腐不應政治掛帥 依法治國不枉不縱

中共中央宣傳部副部長魯煒上周「涉嫌嚴重違紀」接受調查。由於他曾任中央網絡安全和信息化領導小組辦公室(中央網信辦)主任,此事在海內外引起了廣泛議論。從中紀委及官方傳媒發出的言論看,魯煒垮台雖然一定有涉及金錢的貪腐因素,但主要原因,還是政治上出了問題。

魯煒自2013年擔任內地互聯網大總管的3年期間,當局對互聯網管控日漸加強,不僅封鎖境外網站,嚴格審查過濾網絡內容,網上言論尺度也不斷收緊,打擊網絡大V等意見領袖的「清網行動」,更招來國際詬病,引發網民批評。不過,自從他去年6月卸任中央網信辦主任以後,內地互聯網管控並未有絲毫放鬆,反而變本加厲,可見魯煒時期的嚴刑峻法,並非其個人行為。

今年6月,中央巡視組就在巡視後指中央網信辦貫徹落實中共總書記習近平指示和工作要求「不夠堅決、不夠及時」、「政治責任感不強,落實中央網信工作重大決策部署不夠到位」、「政治擔當缺失」、「維護政治安全不夠有力」、「政治生態不良,存在『小圈子』問題」等。由此可見,「政治問題」才是魯煒今次落馬受查的主因。

回顧歷史,自中共建政頭40年的歷次運動中,受整肅高官都以政治罪名被罷黜。從高崗、劉少奇到林彪、「四人幫」,從華國鋒到胡耀邦、趙紫陽,無不如是。但自從八九六四後,中共對高官的整肅不再控以政治罪名,從北京市委前書記陳希同,到上海市委前書記陳良宇,以至後來的薄熙來、周永康、徐才厚、郭伯雄、令計劃等人,官方對外公布的罪名都是貪污受賄瀆職等刑事罪名,反映中共力圖淡化黨內鬥爭的政治色彩。

從政治上打倒到反腐肅貪刑事化,反映的是「去政治化」的傾向,現在由反經濟腐敗向反政治腐敗傾斜,反映了中共仍然是一個「講政治」的政黨。不提政治罪名時不等於背後沒有政治,現在將政治因素擺上枱面應該更增加透明度。只不過,政治正確是中共的「家事」,在強調依法治國、依規治黨的今天,人們希望對貪官的懲處不應忽略法律程序,以事實為依據,以法律為準繩,勿枉勿縱,切忌因政治因素干擾法律的實施。反腐肅貪在陽光下進行,讓人民大眾感受到法律的威懾力的同時,也感受到法律的公平正義,如此,才能讓國人對反貪腐風暴保持信心,贏得長久的支持。

不見「統一委」 未到統一「進行式」

<轉載自20171127 明報 觀點版 撰文:劉瀾昌 資深傳媒人>

解放軍一架「圖154型」電子偵察機本月18日上午經過宮古海域,由北往南飛行,繞台飛行遠海。這是中共十九大閉幕後解放軍軍機首次涉台演訓。之前解放軍已多次派出「轟6」等戰機繞飛台灣島。中國空軍官方微博「空軍發布」720日發布兩張戰機繞台飛行照片,並配文稱「常態化!常態化!常態化!」固然台灣軍方稱全程監控並掌握解放軍軍機動態,籲請台灣民眾放心,但是不能不看到,解放軍對台軍事行動升級並且更具實戰意味。不過筆者認為,大陸方面只要尚未成立「統一委員會」,那麼「統一台灣」就還不是「進行式」,北京高層尚未真正將「統一台灣」擺上議事日程具體實施落實。

台灣問題與中美關係緊連

解放軍「圖154型」電子偵察機裝有合成孔徑雷達及其他電子戰設備,滯空時間長,具備良好電子偵察能力、電子干擾能力及電子戰能力。無疑一旦其對台繞飛也常態化,那麼對台灣的威脅比「轟6」繞飛更大,因為「轟6」還是老舊的作戰模式,而電子戰則是現代資訊戰爭核心所在。相信大陸一旦用到「武統」,也必然盡可能減少流血和各種建築破壞,而是所謂「精準打擊」和「斬首行動」,所以大型電子偵察機的演訓意義不言而喻。

顯然北京此舉是保持對蔡英文「高壓」的一個有殺傷力的舉措。在地緣政治角度,也是對本地區國家展示實力。同時相信也是對特朗普所謂「印太戰略」一點小小表示。事實上台灣問題的解決與中美關係緊密相連,實現「統一」除了大陸綜合實力繼續壓倒台灣外,更重要的是北京與美國實力對比變化,倘若大陸GDP(本地生產總值)與美國打平或者略超,台海形勢必然有驚人改變。

「統一」當下只是戰略要求

從十九大報告可見習近平對台還是「硬的更硬,軟的更軟」,對於不肯承認「九二共識」的蔡英文保持高壓態勢,相信還要「拿」幾個台灣邦交國;另一方面加大「惠台」措施,而且是對準台灣基層民眾和青年。福建省已公開表示要從台灣招聘1000名教師;教育部則公布《台灣學生獎學金管理辦法》,保證獲獎學生比例不低於30%,並大幅提高獎學金獎勵標準,最高每人每學年獎金達3萬人民幣。日前上海市「2018屆高校畢業生秋季校園招聘會」專門有台生專櫃專場。有些企業為了吸引更多台生加入,起薪為6000人民幣,高於台灣的「22K台幣」,還提供每季度一星期的回鄉探親假期,並為他們報銷往返機票費用。十九大報告提出給台胞「同等待遇」,大陸各級正迅速落實。

不過從十九大報告也看出,「統一」當下只是中共的戰略要求,習近平也只規定了戰略時間表,尚沒有實施時間表。習表明「祖國統一」是中華民族復興的重要內涵、必然要求,沒有「統一」就稱不上偉大復興,也就是說「統一台灣」不能遲於本世紀中葉。按照習的新規劃,原來在本世紀中葉實現的國家現代化提前到2035年,到2050年則為現代強國。那麼是否「統一」的任務也提前到2035年呢?答案是不肯定的。就是說,十九大報告沒有明確劃出「統一」死線,只是作出概略規定,相信這樣做北京可以靈活掌握。

事實上鄧小平曾因蔣經國還在世而過於樂觀,將「祖國統一」列為1990年代三大任務之一。之前曾有海外報道說,習要親手完成「統一大業」。顯然這是未有根據的報道。習將下一步的中國夢實現分為兩個15年規劃,這是中共可以操之在我的目標,而台灣問題則始終是複雜而敏感的問題。5年前還是馬英九掌權,十八大報告對兩岸形勢較為樂觀,用了很大篇幅去論述和平發展,包括實現「和平統一」首先要確保兩岸關係和平發展、要全面貫徹兩岸關係和平發展。事實上北京認為,在當時條件下兩岸關係已經是1949年以來最好局面,十八大報告就兩岸政治關係的合情合理安排,就兩岸平等協商、加強制度建設,就商談建立兩岸軍事安全互信機制,就協商達成兩岸和平協議,都做了論述。但是民進黨再執政,整個形勢就完全改變。可以認為就大陸而言,由於大陸的實力和國際地位不斷加強,對實現「統一」愈來愈有利;而就島內形勢看則是支持「統一」的力量在下降,離心的傾向則在強化。尤其是國民黨一蹶不振,使大陸很多人對「和平統一」失去信心,「武統」之聲強烈。當然「武統」或許是「和統」的支撐,但是對「和統」失去耐性,以為可以「一打了事」,實則還是將複雜的「統一」問題簡單化。

習有耐心 相信實力是統一基礎

然而十九大報告與十八大報告不同,承認了形勢嚴峻的一面,這是成熟的表現。更為重要的是十九大報告還是將經濟發展放在第一位,而其他工作都要服從這個大局。顯然習還是有耐心,還是相信實力是「統一」的基礎,等到實力進一步增強,與美國的格局發生重大變化,那麼實行「統一」便是時機成熟、水到渠成。

最後,筆者相信北京一旦不再允許「久拖不統」,要將「統一」付諸行動,那麼是要成立一個「統一委員會」才行,以現在的國台辦是不能擔當其責。因為現在的國台辦主要是對台交流、心靈相契,而真正開展統一行動將涉及政治、軍事、法律以及經濟各個部門,幾乎是整個國家機器動起來,那不是現在的國台辦可勝任的。也許國台辦可以升級為「統一委」。而且根據香港的經驗,台灣「統一」後可能事務更多,國家必定要有相應領導部門對應。

2017年11月24日 星期五

有醫院沒有醫生 硬件一流又如何

<轉載自20171124 明報 社評>

審計署發現,北大嶼山醫院(下稱「北嶼醫院」)投入服務4年,迄今仍有兩成面積空置,部分專科服務遲遲仍未展開,醫院近在咫尺,可是部分北大嶼山居民仍然要長途跋涉,前往瑪嘉烈醫院求醫,情况荒謬。本港公立醫院人手短缺,醫生不足,縱有一流硬件,也無法充分發揮服務市民,「北嶼醫院」的情况,只是一個具體反映,今年初投入服務的天水圍醫院會否步其後塵,令人憂慮。長遠增加醫護人員培訓,短期引入更多合資格外地醫生,實有迫切需要,業界不應囿於保護主義而阻撓。

北大嶼醫院未似預期 天水圍醫院未許樂觀

2009年,政府斥資25億元興建「北嶼醫院」,第一期於4年後正式啟用,除了急症及門診,還有外科、婦科、骨科等專科。東涌居民望穿秋水,以為區內終於有較為全面的公營醫療服務,可惜「北嶼醫院」徒有優良硬件,卻因為沒有足夠人手,未能充分發揮,部分服務不知何時才能啟用。東涌居民慨嘆「得物無所用」、「有醫院等於沒醫院」,無奈心情可以理解。

審計署報告提到,「北嶼醫院」未充分使用大樓,住院服務亦不足,10項主要醫療設備,有7項使用量低於預期,使用率不足60%,部分醫療設備購入至今未曾使用;婦科及兒科服務比預期遲了3年,迄今仍未開展,區內千計婦孺要老遠到瑪嘉烈醫院預約專科門診。根據第一期發展計劃,「北嶼醫院」原定2016年全面啟用,提供180張病牀,可是現今仍有近八成病牀未啟用,究竟「北嶼醫院」何時才能全面服務市民,仍是未知之數。

9年前,政府官員聲言,「北嶼醫院」服務足以滿足區內十多萬人口需要,現在回看,予人觀感是誇誇其談,有心無力。政府為了配合大嶼山長遠發展,正積極籌備「北嶼醫院」第二期計劃。本港醫院不足,政府願意投入更多資源增建醫院,本是好事,然而當「北嶼醫院」第一期發展未能地盡其利、物盡其用,試問市民又怎能相信第二期不會重蹈覆轍。

「北嶼醫院」的問題,說到底是公院醫護人手嚴重不足,醫管局左支右絀,調配無從。審計署提到,「北嶼醫院」現有員工數目,僅及全面運作所需的61%。雖說新醫院服務需要循序漸進擴展,然而一日不解決人手短缺,都難以好好服務市民。

醫管局長期受人手荒困擾,「北嶼醫院」未能高效運作,只是一個具體寫照,天水圍醫院情况同樣糟糕。天水圍醫院今年初啟用,惟因人手不足,目前只能提供8小時急症室服務。「北嶼醫院」投入服務一年後開展24小時急症,可是天水圍醫院隨時要等到2019年初,才能提供相關服務。屯門醫院作為新界西龍頭醫院,診治病人眾多,早已自顧不暇,政府寄望天水圍醫院各項服務陸續啟用後,成為區內主要公營醫療機構,減少跨區求診,紓減屯門醫院壓力,可是「北嶼醫院」的經驗,令人擔心政府這個如意算盤,何時才能打響。

醫生人口比例太低 引入外援不應阻撓

本港醫生與人口比例,與其他發達地區相比,可說低得可憐,每1000人只有1.7名醫生,相比之下,澳洲是4.0、美國是3.3、英國是3.7、日本是2.3,公院情况尤其嚴峻,由於工作壓力大,加上私營市場「錢途光明」,公院醫生流失嚴重。政府估計,2030年全港將欠缺逾千醫生。

公院醫護人手短缺,原因不一而足。十多年前政府因為財赤壓力大削醫管局開支,又錯估醫護人力供求需要,大減醫科學位,大批醫科生畢業後未獲聘用,到後來發現醫護人手不足,才亡羊補牢,政策短視搖擺,難辭其咎,然而醫生業界傾向保護主義,反對增加引入海外合資格醫生,亦導致問題短期無法紓緩。

醫生團體堅稱本港並非醫生不足,只是公私營醫療系統失衡,公院醫生太少病人太多。誠然,目前私院專科醫生相對人口的比例,遠比公院專科醫生為高,政府有必要加強公私營醫療機構合作,可是除了專科醫生,本港普通科醫生同樣缺乏。醫生業界強調專業自主,同時亦應以市民整體利益為依歸。回歸後,醫生業界不再承認英聯邦國家醫生的執業資格,執業試過關者20年間顯著減少,保護主義傾向並不健康。

增加引入合資格海外醫生,不僅可以紓緩人手荒,也可縮短目前醫生的超長工時,提升服務質素,對醫生和病人都是好事。醫生團體聲稱,本港醫生與人口比例「看似嚴重」,惟與2002年相比,「今天醫生比例已高了」。有關說法匪夷所思,實際是拿最差的數字來做比較,試圖「印證」現在情况未算最壞,可是社會大眾期望的,是合理和高質素醫療服務,沒理由強迫市民忍受現時醫生不足嚴重影響服務的情况。業界應該以社會利益為重,放下保護主義心態。

Hospitals lacking doctors

THE Audit Commission has revealed a ridiculous picture of service delays at North Lantau Hospital. More than a fifth of its floor area was still vacant and some medical services had not yet been commissioned even after four years of operation. Despite the proximity of this hospital to residents in northern Lantau Island, some of them still have to travel a long way to Princess Margaret Hospital for specialist services. But the story of North Lantau Hospital is just another concrete example showing the problem of a labour shortfall faced by public hospitals in Hong Kong. As long as the shortage of doctors persists, the sector can never provide services to the full scope of their capacity even if it has first-class hardware installed.

Aside from the underutilisation of the hospital building, the Director of Audit's report has also mentioned its shortfalls in delivering inpatient services. Of the 10 major medical equipment items at North Lantau Hospital, 7 items had a utilisation rate of below 60 per cent, way lower than expectations. Some medical equipment had never been put into use. The provision of gynaecology and paediatric services is three years overdue and even now the two clinics have not been commissioned yet. As a result, thousands of women and children in the district have to travel afar to Princess Margaret Hospital for specialist outpatient care. According to its Phase 1 development plan, the North Lantau Hospital was supposed to be fully open in 2016 and provide 180 inpatient beds, but up to now nearly 80 per cent of all beds have still been left idle. When the hospital can be fully operational remains a question mark.

The report noted that the number of staff in the hospital was only 61 per cent of the headcount needed for its full operations. In fact, the failure of North Lantau Hospital to have an efficient output is only a reflection of the manpower shortage that has plagued the Hospital Authority for long. Another hospital facing similar difficulties is Tin Shui Wai Hospital. It began operation early this year but because of staff shortage so far it can only provide eight hours of Accident and Emergency (A&E) services every day. North Lantau Hospital commenced its 24-hour A&E services after one year of operation, but in the case of Tin Shui Wai Hospital, it may have to wait till 2019 before it can extend the service to the whole day.

Many factors have contributed to the shortage of health care professionals in public hospitals. More than ten years ago, the government slashed the Hospital Authority spendings under the looming pressure of budget deficits. At the same time, it wrongly assessed the demand and supply of health care professionals and cut the number of medical school places hugely while many medical graduates failed to find a job as a practitioner. Only when the workforce crisis began to unfold did the government realise it had to remedy the situation. There is no doubt that the government should take the blame for its short-sightedness and policy swings. But on the other hand, the protectionist attitude shown by local medics in opposing the recruitment of overseas qualified practitioners is not helping to ease the problem either.

Local associations of doctors have argued that Hong Kong is not really suffering from a shortage of doctors but an imbalance between the public and private sectors in terms of manpower distribution, with the public sector having too few doctors but too many patients. To be fair, the private medical specialist to population ratio now is much higher than that in the public sector. The government must play its part to strengthen the collaboration between the public and private medical institutions. However, apart from specialists, general practitioners are also under shortage. After the handover, doctors from Commonwealth countries are no longer automatically awarded the qualification to practise in Hong Kong, and the number of those who passed the licensing exam has been decreasing significantly over the past twenty years. Protectionism is by no means a healthy tendency. Importing more qualified overseas doctors can not only help alleviate the workforce shortage, but it also shortens the current notoriously long working hours of doctors, in the end improving the quality of their service. This is in the interests of both doctors and patients.

有醫院沒有醫生 硬件一流又如何

審計署發現,北大嶼山醫院(下稱「北嶼醫院」)投入服務4年,迄今仍有兩成面積空置,部分專科服務遲遲仍未展開,醫院近在咫尺,可是部分北大嶼山居民仍然要長途跋涉,前往瑪嘉烈醫院求醫,情况荒謬。本港公立醫院人手短缺,醫生不足,縱有一流硬件,也無法充分發揮服務市民,「北嶼醫院」的情况,只是一個具體反映。

審計署報告提到,「北嶼醫院」未充分使用大樓,住院服務亦不足,10項主要醫療設備,有7項使用量低於預期,使用率不足60%,部分醫療設備購入至今未曾使用;婦科及兒科服務比預期遲了3年,迄今仍未開展,區內千計婦孺要老遠到瑪嘉烈醫院預約專科門診。根據第一期發展計劃,「北嶼醫院」原定2016年全面啟用,提供180張病牀,可是現今仍有近八成病牀未啟用,究竟「北嶼醫院」何時才能全面服務市民,仍是未知之數。

審計署提到,「北嶼醫院」現有員工數目,僅及全面運作所需的61%。醫管局長期受人手荒困擾,「北嶼醫院」未能高效運作,只是一個具體寫照,天水圍醫院情况同樣糟糕。天水圍醫院今年初啟用,惟因人手不足,目前只能提供8小時急症室服務。「北嶼醫院」投入服務一年後開展24小時急症,可是天水圍醫院隨時要等到2019年初,才能提供相關服務。

公院醫護人手短缺,原因不一而足。十多年前政府因為財赤壓力大削醫管局開支,又錯估醫護人力供求需要,大減醫科學位,大批醫科生畢業後未獲聘用,到後來發現醫護人手不足,才亡羊補牢,政策短視搖擺,難辭其咎,然而醫生業界傾向保護主義,反對增加引入海外合資格醫生,亦導致問題短期無法紓緩。

醫生團體堅稱本港並非醫生不足,只是公私營醫療系統失衡,公院醫生太少病人太多。誠然,目前私院專科醫生相對人口的比例,遠比公院專科醫生為高,政府有必要加強公私營醫療機構合作,可是除了專科醫生,本港普通科醫生同樣缺乏。回歸後,醫生業界不再承認英聯邦國家醫生的執業資格,執業試過關者20年間顯著減少,保護主義傾向並不健康。增加引入合資格海外醫生,不僅可以紓緩人手荒,也可縮短目前醫生的超長工時,提升服務質素,對醫生和病人都是好事。

2017年11月23日 星期四

內地禁辦赴帕勞旅行團

<轉載自20171123 明報 加東版 國際版>

有報道指國家旅遊局對各大旅行社展開秋冬檢查,禁止內地旅行社舉辦梵蒂岡、帕勞(Palau,又稱帛琉)旅行團,否則將受嚴厲處罰。不過本報電話訪問內地攜程網及途牛網,對方表示只收到不准去帕勞的通知。而台灣陸委會昨晚表示,希望大陸尊重台灣與其邦交國的權利,不希望大陸運用政治力量干擾旅遊與交流。

本報昨致電攜程網及途牛網查詢事件。途牛網負責人指收到通知停辦帕勞旅行團,她指因為「中國與帕勞沒建立外交關係」,目前只能單獨訂購往帕勞機票或者以自由行模式前往。另外,12月歐洲團行程仍包括梵蒂岡,但只限「連線」,與德國、意大利等線路合併,及從上海和武漢來回。

攜程網昨日顯示,仍有「梵蒂岡宗教藝術朝聖之旅」,不過記者致電查詢時,攜程網負責人指,已經沒有任何赴梵蒂岡的團,她表示不清楚何時取消全部梵蒂岡行程。

自由亞洲電台早前指,北京鳳凰假期國際旅行社在16日貼出緊急通知稱,國家旅遊局對各大旅行社展開秋冬重點檢查,旅行社行程涉及梵蒂岡景點須全部刪除。通知指同程、途牛兩家旅行社因旅遊產品梵蒂岡、帕勞,已被處罰30萬元人民幣。

中梵藝術外交被指與台斷交先兆 台稱密切關注

<轉載自20171123 明報 加東版 國際版>

中梵關係一直惹人關注,日前北京故宮博物院與梵蒂岡博物館宣布將展開首次藝術交流,並於明年3月分別在梵蒂岡及中國數個城市舉辦40件藝術品的交換展覽。再令台灣擔憂這是梵蒂岡要與台斷交的先兆,不過專家指,中梵在任命主教等方面仍存在分歧。

西安廈門上海深圳展出

天主教新聞通訊社(Catholic News Agency)報道,梵蒂岡博物館前日(21)舉行「中梵雙向同步藝術展」新聞發布會,宣布梵蒂岡博物館與北京故宮博物院互相借出館藏展覽。美聯社報道,中國將在北京、西安、廈門、上海及深圳展出梵蒂岡珍品。梵蒂岡博物館以「精神世界:人、自然與和諧」為展覽主題,將展示10幅中國當代畫家張焰的油畫作品及30件不同朝代的展品。同時會借出40件珍藏的中國古代銅器、陶瓷、景泰藍及一件文藝復興時期的畫作,所有珍藏都是與中國專家合作修復的。

梵蒂岡博物館館長賈塔(Barbara Jatta)以「藝術外交(diplomacy of art)」來形容雙方首次文化交流,表示這是雙方「對話的進程」,亦是教宗對博物館的期許。

出席活動的中國文化產業投資基金理事會秘書長朱建程指,交流有益於雙方了解和信任,「促進中國與梵蒂岡外交關係正常化」。

對於中梵首次藝術交流,外界分析是梵蒂岡與台灣斷交的先兆,台灣外交部昨晚回應指,掌握梵蒂岡與大陸的對話與互動,並隨時分析情勢,密切關注事件。強調教廷非俗世國家,與台灣交流密切及肯定台灣宗教自由等。

教廷:文化交流助保持關係

中梵關係近年緩和,自由亞洲電台引述旅美中國學者謝選駿指,教宗方濟各或受解放神學影響,比較左傾,較重視與中國改善關係,但中梵就哪一方擁有任命主教的權力仍存在分歧。中國認為由梵蒂岡任命主教侵犯其主權。不過,梵蒂岡發言人伯克(Greg Burke)則表示,很多時候,文化交流比外交關係更容易一些。雙方在對方博物館裏辦藝術展覽就是保持雙邊關係的一部分。