Residents are generally satisfied with the level of day-to-day freedom, but are concerned about the development of a more democratic system of government, according to a recent survey.
Of the 891 people questioned, 43 per cent said they were satisfied with the Government's handling of freedom of speech, assembly and protest activities.
Only 20 per cent expressed dissatisfaction, compared with 28 per cent last year.
The annual survey was conducted by the Chinese University this month on behalf of the Hong Kong Centre for Studies on Relations Across the Taiwan Strait.
Legislative Councillor and democracy advocate Lee Cheuk-yan said several issues in the past year raised concerns about democracy and legal autonomy, including the Government's decision not to prosecute newspaper tycoon Sally Aw Sian in a circulation falsification case.
But he said people did not think those issues directly affected them.
However, people were split on whether the Government was doing a good job of furthering democracy, and many people were undecided. Twenty-nine per cent of respondents were satisfied with the rate of democratic development, but 27 per cent were dissatisfied.