TNAG-1321-FCO40-1727-Future-of-Hong-Kong-opinion-polls-and-surveys-1984 — Page 31

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of the treaties", the majority (about four-fifths) favoured that China

should re-possess sovereignty. This survey therefore allowed the

students to separately express their points of oonsideration and decisions,

thereby avoiding the confusion that occurred in the past,

Two-thirds of students accepted the 'special administrative region'

proposal

On the question of exercising sovereignty over Hong Kong and

solution to Hong Kong's future, 93 per cent said that "China may exercise

sovereignty over Hong Kong after it has put forth an acceptable solution

and has given dependable assurances" and about two-thirds (67.8%) accepted

the proposal of "special administrative region" as a solution to the

question of Hong Kong's future. Therefore a greater part of respondents

held the view that only after the Chinese Government had given dependable

assurances to the "special administrative region" proposal would they

accept its right of exercising sovereignty.

If the Chinese Government failed to fulfil its promise in

exercising sovereignty over Hong Kong, more than half of the students

would "actively strive for reforms" and about 30 per cent would"

every means to leave Hong Kong", As to how Hong Kong people should

react, two-thirds (67.4%) said that they should "urge the Chinese

Government to carry out reforms" whereas 17.3 per cent of students said

they had to "strive for the independence of Hong Kong". From the

note findings of these two questions, the Chinese Government should that if

^

it failed to fulfil its promise in exercising sovereignty over Hong Kong,

China would immediately be faced with pressures for reforms, people

leaving Hong Kong or striving for the independence of Hong Kong.

/P.27.....