Oriental Daily
21/1/83 (Report)
DB members polled on HK's future
Most members have no confidence in Article 31
of the Chinese constitution
60 per cent of those polled favour a
new legal system
pa
1/10/2
Our paper has polled District Board members on the various known options with regard to Hong Kong's future. Results of the p 1.. reveal that HK people have insufficient confidence in the 'durability' of the Beijing leadership. They would rather let their own fate ride with the tide of political volatilities than identifying their future with the written provisions of Article 31. It is because the history of Communist China is replete with examples of abrupt policy aboutturns as a result of leadership changes. Even constitutions have not been immune from arbitrary revision. It would be better therefore to have no change to
the existing order.
Seventy per cent of those polled are willing to stay in Hong Kong after status quo passes or have given the matter no thought at all.
This demonstrates their sense of belonging to Hong Kong and their determination to live on. But it could well demonstrate HK people's 'no tomorrow' mentality.
As to whether the 'special administrative region option' is acceptable, there seems to be no strong inclination on those polled either for or against. The bulk of the polled opinion seems to indicate a it-won't-matter-one-way-or-the-other attitude.
On the question of change to the existing political order after the supposed conversion of Hong Kong to a special administrative region, the polled opinion indicates a strong preference for truly elected members to the central organs of government. Opinions however vary on the mode to appoint the highest government executive. Even the mo“ -f election of the head of government by universal suffrage fails to attract predominant support. But the majority of the views seem to agree on one point, namely, the highest government executive must be administratively responsible to the public and respect their opinions.
On the legal system, there seems to be much ground for agreement between those polled. Sixty per cent favour a new legal system. This reflects their qualified confidence in the existing system. But none favours the Chinese system.
HI pee he would put up willingly with a lower quality of living upon passing the status quo in exchange for integrity of the rule of law and of persunal rights.