Hongkong's Desire: 64 Percent of Hong Kong Residents Favor Direct Election

64 Percent of Hong Kong Residents Favor Direct Election
By Chen Xingman
Central News Agency
Jun 12, 2007

Former chief secretary Anson Chan speaks to the Hong Kong press about
electoral reform proposals. (Mike Clarke/AFP/Getty Images)

HONG KONG―A survey conducted by Hong Kong Baptist University reveals
that 64 percent of Hong Kong residents interviewed are in favor of
direct elections for the functional constituency seats 1 of the
territory's Legislative Council by the year of 2012. The survey was
entrusted by a group headed by the former Chief Secretary for
Administration, Mrs. Anson Chan.

Conducted in late April, the survey interviewed 900 people. The
statistics show the general public in Hong Kong strongly support making
changes to the Legislative Council starting from 2008 with ultimate
goals to implement direct elections for the chief executive of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and all of the members of the
Legislative Council.

In addition, 56 percent of the interviewees support expanding the scope
of corporate ballots for the functional constituency seats in the
upcoming Legislative Council's election in 2008 so that board of
directors and company executives have the right to vote. Forty-five
percent of the interviewed people also indicate they favor the
reconstruction of the 30 functional constituency seats down to 10.
Eventually, all of the seats in the Legislative Council will be filled
through direct elections.

According to the survey, 69 percent of the interviewees are aware that
Donald Tsang, the incumbent Chief Executive of HKSAR, has promised to
establish the roadmap and timetable of universal suffrage before his
term completes in 2012. About 68 percent also consider direct elections
for the chief executive is beneficial in ensuring the justice of
government's policy.

Mrs. Anson Chan's group, known as "Core Group", was established
immediately after her announcement on Sep. 23, 2006 that she would not
participate in the 2007 campaign of the chief executive. The "Core
Group" conducts studies on the reform of Hong Kong's political system
and promotes general public's rational, all-party discussions over
political and constitutional reforms, hoping to improve the
administration and policy execution of the HKSAR's government.

Note: [1] Among the existing 60 members of Hong Kong's Legislative
Council, 30 are elected by geographical constituencies through direct
elections, and the remaining 30 members by functional constituencies.

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