Alkenes v/s Alkynes in two different reactions
The first stage of electophilic addition is addition of a cation to alkene/alkyne with formation of a carbocations. Vinyl carbocations are much less stable then alkyl cations, so the path is strongly hindered for alkynes. 

The first stage of catalitic hydrogenation is addtion of hydride-ion on the metal-surface to unsaturated hydrocarbon, forming a carbanion bound to metal surface. Vinyl-anion are more stable than alkyl-anyons for the same reasons vinyl-cations are less stable than alklyl-cation. Acetylenes also are much less hindered sterically than alkenes and adsorb on a metal surface much easier.

Please, note, than nearby substituents may affect these properties dramatically. Deactivation of alkenes in electrophilic addition by strong $\pi$-electron-withdrawing groups is well known.