Support among Hong Kong residents for China's policies toward the territory jumped 20 percentage points from last year to a record 56 percent, according to a poll.
The University of Hong Kong poll was released on Thursday, just days ahead of the 9th anniversary of the former British colony's return to China.
The survey said the high rating was a result of the generally benevolent attitude the communist country's leaders have shown toward Hong Kong since Donald Tsang (
PHOTO: AP
"After Donald Tsang became the chief executive, most central government officials have used mild words when commenting on Hong Kong affairs. This may have contributed to Hong Kong people's positive feedback," pollster Robert Chung said.
Tsang took the top job last July after Tung resigned complaining of failing health. However, many believe that China's leadership forced Tung to quit because he was deeply unpopular.
In the latest poll, support for Beijing's rule rose 20 percentage points over last year to 56 percent, the highest since the poll was launched in 1999 and well above the previous high of 36 percent recorded last year and in 2003.
Hong Kong returned to China on July 1, 1997, under a "one country, two systems" formula that promises the city a large degree of autonomy. But China's communist leadership still has strong influence over the city's leaders.
Public dissatisfaction with Beijing peaked in 2004, when state leaders ruled out full democracy for the territory, the poll said.
The survey also said 47 percent of respondents said they were proud of being Chinese nationals, compared with 51 percent who disagreed.
The telephone survey interviewed 1,210 Hong Kong residents between June 19-21. It had a margin of error of 3 percent.
Meanwhile, observers said that Hong Kong's huge annual pro-democracy protest could fizzle today because of a lack of widespread social discontent and Tsang's consistent popularity rating.
But lackluster interest in the street march -- which has drawn tens of thousands every July since 2003 to mark the anniversary of the former British colony's return to Chinese rule -- has heated up dramatically this week, thanks to a popular former official's decision to join.
Anson Chan (
She has also attacked Tsang and Beijing for dragging their feet on introducing full democracy to the territory.
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