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Hong Kong Shows Steady Support for Reforms
Real estate news By Angus Reid Global Monitor
October 13, 2007
Most people in Hong Kong are supportive of a series of political reforms that would transform the territory into a functioning democracy, according to a poll by the Hong Kong University Public Opinion Programme. 57.5 per cent of respondents back a proposal to open the election of the territory’s chief executive to the general public, up 1.4 per cent since early August. This same proposal currently under discussion in the government would also add 400 directly elected district councillors to the existing 800-member Election Committee.
A separate proposal under discussion deals with the 60-seat Legislative Council and foresees the adoption of a mixed election, whereby half of the seats would be returned by a "single seat single vote" simple majority system. The other half of the seats would be chosen by proportional representation, so that each voter can cast two votes. 47 per cent of respondents support this plan. If approved, the reforms would be implemented in 2012. China took control of Hong Kong from Britain in July 1997. As part of the "one country, two systems" arrangement proposed by Deng Xiaoping, China must allow Hong Kong to be sovereign in all matters except national security and foreign affairs until 2047.
Hong Kong’s Basic Law sets no specific timetable for a democratically elected government. In September 2004, Hong Kong’s 3.2 million registered voters chose 30 members to the 60-seat Legislative Council. The representatives monitor the performance of the government, and play a role in enacting laws, as well as examining and approving budgets. In June 2005, Donald Tsang was elected unopposed by an 800-member committee to serve as Hong Kong’s chief executive for two years. Tsang had substituted Tung Chee-hwa on an interim basis. In March, Tsang won a full four-year term as chief executive, defeating Alan Leong with 649 votes to 123.
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