Doubts over getting democracy by 2007 grow in Hong Kong

[dArKeR]

DPA , HONG KONG
Thursday, Mar 25, 2004,Page 5

The number of Hong Kong people who believe they will have free elections by 2007 has fallen sharply after a war of words over whether the territory is ready for democracy, according to a survey published yesterday.

Only 19 percent of people interviewed said they believed there would be universal suffrage for the position of chief executive by 2007 and for all legislators by 2008, compared to 28 percent and 39 percent respectively in an identical poll late last year.

The percentage of people supporting free elections has also fallen with just over 60 percent of interviewees supporting them compared to three out of four last year, the University of Hong Kong survey found.

The rising tide of pessimism follows months of ferocious debate over political reform in Hong Kong after 500,000 people took part in an anti-government march last July and 100,000 more demanded a timetable for democracy on Jan. 1.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/03/25/2003107681