Reforms will add fuel to calls for political change

This year, Hong Kong has seen a 'de facto referendum' being held, the chief executive debating a pan-democratic leader on television, negotiations between the central government and the Democratic Party and, finally, passage of Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's political reform package after its demise was universally expected.

Where do we stand today, after these milestones?

The defeat of a motion of thanks for Tsang's policy address suggests that his administration continues to be mired in a legislative system without a government party. But there has been change, according to a 150-page report on opinion surveys sponsored by the National Democratic Institute and carried out by the Hong Kong Transition Project.

We know that the rich-poor divide is widening, that there is suspicion of government-business collusion, and that there is growing hostility towards the wealthy.

This is summed up in one word: unfair. Life is unfair. The system is unfair. Employers do not treat their workers fairly. But, most of all, the government is perceived to be unfair in the way it governs, in the way it formulates policy.

In February 2003, before the massive demonstrations that summer, 67 per cent of the people surveyed believed the government formulated policy unfairly. The proportion dropped to 54 per cent in May 2005, but rebounded to 65 per cent in August this year.

Despite this, there is now a majority, albeit a slim one, that believes constitutional reforms will make government policy fairer. After the reform package comes into effect in 2012, 51 per cent of Hongkongers believe, government policymaking will be fairer.