HONG KONG, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- The majority of people in Hong Kong would like to see democratic reforms in place by 2007, according to a survey released Monday.
The poll showed widespread dissatisfaction with the Hong Kong government, but a surprisingly positive attitude toward the Beijing government's handling of Hong Kong affairs.
A total of 88 percent of respondents supported constitutional reform before 2007, the year that Hong Kong's Basic Law allows for changes in the election system. Eighty-one percent supported direct election of the chief executive, and 77 percent direct election of all members of the Legislative Council. Under the current system, only 24 out of 60 legislators are directly elected.
While 75 percent of those surveyed said they were dissatisfied with the performance of the administration of Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa, 68 percent said they approved of the central government's performance in ruling China, and 72 percent approved of Beijing's performance with regard to Hong Kong.
The poll, conducted in November 2003, did not reflect responses to Tung's Jan. 7 announcement that central government officials would be consulted on any reforms before the Hong Kong public would be invited to submit their views.
The survey was commissioned by Civic Exchange, a public policy think tank, and conducted and analyzed by the Hong Kong Transition Project, a multi-university research project.
