MORE than half of Hongkong's architects, surveyors and planners would oppose the political reform package if it did not converge with the Basic Law, according to a survey conducted by the constituency's legislator, Mr Edward Ho Sing-tin.
However, the same survey also showed a seemingly contradictory result when, against the awareness of non-convergence, the majority of the professionals showed support for most of the seven items in Governor Mr Chris Patten's package.
Proposals like lowering the voting age, and abolishing appointed seats in the district boards and municipal councils, were supported by over half of the respondents.
On the two most controversial items about future functional constituency elections and the Election Committee, a more or less equal split was recorded.
Mr Ho sent out questionnaires last December to survey all corporate members of the Hongkong Institute of Architects, Hongkong Institute of Surveyors and Hongkong Institute of Planners on their attitudes towards Mr Patten's package.
The questionnaire intended to test the professionals' preference on the assumption that Mr Patten's package and convergence were mutually exclusive.