HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 3 February 1988
Public opinion surveys on the Green Paper
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8. MR. MARTIN LEE asked: With reference to the two public opinion surveys on the Green Paper carried out by AGB McNair HK Ltd. on behalf of the Survey Office, in the light of the statement attributed to the Managing Director of AGB McNair by Mr. George FoULKES MP during the House of Commons debate on the Hong Kong Annual Report 1987 on 20 January 1988 to the effect that if AGB McNair had been given a free hand it would have asked more direct and simple questions than those which actually were asked and that it felt constrained by the complicated wording of the Green Paper, will Government inform this Council whether it will still rely on the findings of the surveys that only 15 per cent and 12 per cent respectively of people polled would like to see direct elections introduced in 1988?
CHIEF SECRETARY: Sir, in winding up the debate on the Survey Office report which took place in this Council on 18 November last, I noted that a wide range of comments had been made on the AGB McNair surveys. I said on that occasion, and I quote: 'As in any survey of this nature, there will inevitably be different judgments as to how precisely any particular question should be put. I do not believe it to be part of my task to defend the professional judgment of the company or the approach it has adopted. Listening to Members' speeches this afternoon, it is clear that while there is strong criticism of the report from some Members, others have been satisfied by the careful explanations which the company has provided. I believe, however, I should assure Members that both views will of course be taken into account by the Executive Council when considering the report'. Sir, I can confirm that these views have been taken into account by the Executive Council.
MR. MARTIN LEE: Sir, may I respectfully seek a ruling from you because I do not, with respect, think that the Chief Secretary has answered my question. The question was based on a disclosure of fact made to Parliament as recently as 20 January this year which took the hon. Member of Parliament then on his feet, Sir Peter BLAKER, as much by surprise as it took me, listening to it up in the public gallery. What the Chief Secretary said was simply to refer to his own speech made in this Council on 18 November last year when there was no such disclosure of fact. So may I respectfully ask you to direct him to answer my question?
HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: Mr. LEE, it is unwise for the Chair to make a ruling about whether answers are adequate or not. It is always open to a Member of this Council to ask further questions. It must be for those who answer to judge the adequacy or otherwise of their answers. If you wish to ask a further supplementary question, you may of course do so.