Hong Kong Public Opinion Survey: Over Half of Hong Kong Residents Are Opposed to Article 23

(Clearwisdom.net June 27 report) The "Public Opinion Program" survey conducted by the University of Hong Kong shows that a majority of Hong Kong citizens are opposed to Article 23 in principle. Although the government has made amendments, still the Hong Kong residents do not accept it.

The survey finds that 52% of the respondents interviewed were opposed to enactment of Article 23, 20% supported, and the rest had no opinion or opted for undecided. Regarding their inclination towards the government's original proposals, 13% showed support, 44% of the respondents opposed them, and the rest had no opinion or opted for undecided.

The survey also found that females tended to be stronger in opposing the principles and contents of Article 23 than males, and the younger the age the stronger the opposition, and the higher the education level the stronger the opposition. In terms of occupation, most people who are opposed to Article 23 are specialists, office workers, people working in service industry and students, and those who support Article 23 are mostly non-technical workers and housewives.

The government has made some amendments to the original proposals and put forward the "National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill." The survey showed that there is not much difference in the public opinion on the Bill and on the earlier proposed contents. The result is the same: Those who are opposed to Article 23 outnumber those who support it. Through more than half a year of discussion, the government claimed that it has made certain concessions before the resolution on the enactment of Article 23 will be passed on July 9. However, there isn't much difference in the opinion of Hong Kong people, except that supporters have increased by 3%, and there is 5% reduction in the opposition.

The "Public Opinion Program " believes that the findings indicate if there are fundamental problems in the contents of Article 23, then the technical amendments will be to no effect, and they will not be able to free Hong Kong people from doubts and misgivings.

The "Public Opinion Program" surveyed 1043 people in June, of whom 68% responded.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2003/6/27/52946.html

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