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172020
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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2910
OF 170815Z DECEMBER 92
QLIST?
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, WASHINGTON, OTTAWA, CANBERRA
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
FROM: INFORMATION CO-ORDINATOR
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: OPINION POLL RESULTS
1. TODAY'S (17 DECEMBER) EDITION OF EASTWEEK MAGAZINE PUBLISHED THE RESULTS OF AN OPINION POLL CONDUCTED ON 8 AND 9 DECEMBER. EASTWEEK IS THE ORIENTAL DAILY'S NEW WEEKLY MAGAZINE. THE SAMPLE SIZE WAS 640 AND THE MAIN RESULTS WERE:
(I) 46 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS SUPPORTED OUR CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS AND 24 PERCENT WERE OPPOSED:
(II) 58 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO SUPPORTED THE PACKAGE THOUGHT THE GOVERNOR HAD MADE THEM WITH THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG
KONG IN MIND: AND
(III) 60 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS SAID THAT THEY TRUSTED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. 54 PERCENT SAID THAT THEY DID NOT TRUST THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND 43 PERCENT THAT THEY DID NOT TRUST THE
BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
2. IN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION: QUOTE WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MOTIVES CONCERNS LEGCO MEMBERS' POSITION ON THE PACKAGE UNQUOTE,
THE RESULTS WERE:
SUPPORTERS PER CENT
OPPONENTS
PERCENT
(A) HK'S FUTURE
24.8
12.2
(B) SELF INTEREST
19.1
20.3
(C) (D)
PUBLIC OPINION CHINA
9.5
2.3
1.1
23.4
3. EASTWEEK'S CONCLUSION WAS THAT THE PUBLIC BELIEVE THAT MR PATTEN PUT FORWARD HIS PROPOSALS IN THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG
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