as organised responses, in the form of preprinted letters and
signature campaigns, and responses to questionnaires.
The overwhelming majority of members of governmental
of these, 99
bodies favoured direct elections in principle.
opposed their introduction in 1988, while 158 were in support,
thus showing a ratio of three to two in favour.
As for associations which submitted their views to the
Survey Office, of those favouring direct elections, 171 were
opposed to 1988, compared with 239 either in favour or unopposed,
thus showing 58% in favour and 42% against.
of the organised responses, that is, those whose names
appeared either on preprinted forms or in signature campaigns,
71,862 were opposed to the introduction of direct elections in
1988 while 225,193 favoured their introduction, giving a margin
of about three to one.
As for individual responses, only 21,337 were opposed
to direct elections in 1988 while 38,018 were in favour, giving a
margin of about two to one.
of questionnaire responses, 10,301 submissions were
either opposed to direct elections
direct elections in principle or to their
introduction in 1988, while 26,745 either supported their
introduction in 1988 or had no objection, thus showing 72% for
and 28% against.
It can therefore be seen that in all categories,
whether they be public opinion surveys, organised submissions,
21