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141565 MDLIAN 2636
(II) 57 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF SETTING A DEADLINE FOR ENDING THE TALKS. 36 PERCENT DISAGREED;
(III) 64 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS THOUGHT THAT THE BRITISH SIDE HAD IN EFFECT GIVEN THE CHINESE SIDE AN ULTIMATUM BY SAYING THAT
30 ONLY WEEKS NOT MONTHS REMAIN IN WHICH TO REACH AGREEMENT. PERCENT THOUGHT THAT THIS DID NOT AMOUNT TO AN ULTIMATUM;
(IV) 45 PERCENT SAID THAT THEY SUPPORTED THE REVISIONS MADE TO MY ORIGINAL PROPOSALS ON THE ELECTION COMMITTEE AND THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES. 25 PERCENT OPPOSED THE REVISIONS AND 30 PERCENT HAD NO OPINION;
(V) 30 PERCENT BELIEVED THAT THE REVISED BRITISH PROPOSALS ARE CLOSE TO OUR BOTTOM LINE. 62 PERCENT SAID THAT THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE OUR BOTTOM LINE;
(VI) 72 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS SAID THAT THEY WERE SATISFIED WITH MY HANDLING OF SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS. 25 PERCENT WERE DISSATISFIED;
(VII) 84 PERCENT WERE SATISFIED WITH MY ADDRESS; WERE DISSATISFIED;
11
PERCENT
(VIII) MY OWN APPROVAL RATING WAS 84 PERCENT.
COMMENT
THESE RESULTS ARE REMARKABLE. THE HIGH LEVELS OF SUPPORT ARE CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT THE PRC'S HEARTS AND MINDS CAMPAIGN IN THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. WHETHER THIS ROBUSTNESS WILL BE MAINTAINED IN THE FACE OF A RENEWAL OF THE PRC'S CAMPAIGN IF THE TALKS FAIL REMAINS TO BE SEEN. IT SHOULD ALSO BE BORNE IN MIND THAT THIS ROBUSTNESS IN THE COMMUNITY MIGHT NOT BE REFLECTED IN LEGCO WHEN IT COMES WHEN IT COMES TO A VOTE.
PATTEN
YYYY
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