Most Hong Kong respondents support cracking down on human trafficking: Poll
Survey by Education University Department of Asian and Policy Studies also finds majority of respondents had neutral, not negative, views on asylum-seekers
Policies such as allowing paid work, reforming a screening mechanism for non-refoulement claims and building a detention camp were some of the more popular ways to solve issues related to asylum-seekers and refugees, a survey has found.
Another to crack down on snakeheads and human-trafficking organisations received the most backing – about 65 per cent – from survey respondents, according to the Education University Department of Asian and Policy Studies, which commissioned the poll. The survey also found that nearly half of Hongkongers are misinformed on the issue.
The study came as the number of non-refoulement claims is climbing and political parties are floating the idea of a detention camp – a suggestion that had over 26 per cent of the public’s support.
Hiring more staff to speed up unified screening received 30 per cent of support, and allowing claimants to work in low-end jobs after five years received 32 per cent. Meanwhile, nearly 37 per cent supported reforming the screening system.
While a quarter of the 1,001 Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong adults polled by the school had a negative view of asylum-seekers – major impressions included “fake refugees” and “criminals” – two-thirds were neutral on claimants.