(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in Hong Kong want candidates for the legislature to address issues such as housing, education, medical services, environment, and public order, according to a poll by the Hong Kong University Public Opinion Programme. 86.9 per cent of respondents say that it is important that candidates to the Legislative Council focus on livelihood policies.

Economy-related policies are next on the list of important issues with 76.8 per cent, followed by political policies—such as constitutional affairs and democratic development—with 60 per cent.

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 2007, Tsang won a full four-year term as chief executive, defeating Alan Leong with 649 votes to 123.

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 December 2007, the Chinese government decided that the people of Hong Kong will not be able to directly elect the territory’s chief executive until 2017, and the entire Legislative Council until 2020. Democratic movements in Hong Kong—who had proposed to have direct elections by 2012—protested against Beijing’s ruling.

Hong Kong will hold a legislative election on Sept. 7. On Aug. 27, Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho said that the recent surge in nationalism driven by China hosting the summer Olympic Games could affect the ballot, saying, "We are in a much more difficult position. This time we are suffering from the pressure of nationalism which is generated from the Olympic sentiment."

Polling Data

If you were going to vote for the Legislative Councillors tomorrow, how important would you consider the policies proposed by candidates?

Source: Hong Kong University Public Opinion Programme
Methodology: Interviews with 1,000 Hong Kong residents, conducted from Aug. 18 to Aug. 20, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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