TNAG-1721-FCO40-2401-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-delegati-1988 — Page 141

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In a survey conducted at the end of May 1987, Frank

Small Associates reported 48% in favour of direct elections in

1988

opposed to 34% against. Marketing Decisions Research

conducted 3 surveys, in July and August of 1987. The results

showed an increasing trend in favour of direct elections in 1988

for and 35% against, 47% for being respectively 41%

and 24%/%

against, and 62% for and 28% against in the 3 surveys. Survey

Research Hongkong conducted altogether 4 surveys between July and

September of 1987. The figures were similarly stark: ranging

from 42% to 54% for direct elections in 1988 as opposed to 16% to

25%

against. The Concerned Staff of Tertiary Educational

Institutes conducted their own survey from the end of July to the

beginning of August 1987 which showed a greater percentage

favour of the introduction of direct elections in 1988 than in

any other year.

in

The latest survey, carried out by Marketing Decisions

Research in December, 1987 and published in the

in the South China

Morning Post on 11th January, 1988, showed 78% of the people in

favour of direct elections with only 9% opposed. As to when they

should begin, out of the aforesaid 78%: 53% favoured 1988, 13%

favoured 1989-91, 7% favoured 1992-97 and only 1% wanted to wait

until after 1997.

Despite the bias of the Survey Office Report, a close

study of the Report and its appendices shows unmistakably that

those in favour of direct elections in 1988 overwhelmingly

outnumber those opposed.

Apart from public opinion polls, the Survey Office

Report presented the results of discussions by governmental

bodies, views submitted by associations and individuals as well

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