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Ella Lee

A war against Iraq is overwhelmingly opposed by Hong Kong people, according to the findings of a survey released yesterday which showed eight out of 10 are against military intervention.

The survey, the most extensive of its kind to be carried out in Hong Kong, revealed opposition was even higher if military intervention was led by the US alone rather than by the United Nations.

Academics believe the findings reflect concerns about the dominance of US foreign policy, and fears war would only deepen Hong Kong's economic woes.

The ACNielsen phone survey, in which 1,000 households were interviewed last week, found  82 per cent of respondents did not support military intervention against Iraq led by the UN.

Opposition was higher for a war led by the US in a 'go-it alone' approach, with 85 per cent saying they were against.

Seven in 10 respondents did not support America's role as an international watchdog.

There were no differences between the response of males and females across all age groups for the questions. However, opposition to the US role as international watchdog was higher among younger people, with 79 per cent of those aged between 15 to 24 saying they did not support it, compared with 67 per cent of those aged between 45 and 54.

A smaller poll conducted as part of an international review ahead of the September 11 anniversary last month showed relatively high local support for American foreign policy.

The Gallup poll still suggested strong anti-war sentiment, however, with a majority - 56 per cent -  believing war was not the best way to fight terrorism.

Dr Stephen Sze Man-hung, principal lecturer at the Polytechnic University, believes the strong anti-war sentiment in Hong Kong is mainly caused by uncertainty about the economy. 'Hong Kong people are very economically driven. They have already seen the shadow of the war. The US stock market is stagnant these days and any decline in the US economy will hit Hong Kong directly.' He also said Hong Kong people did not support the US role as an international watchdog because they disliked such a concentration of power.

Political commentator Lau Yui-siu did not think the economic factor played a big role in shaping people's attitudes to war. He argued it was more to do with attitudes towards US foreign policy and power.

Reverend Fung Chi Wood, of the Committee for Peace Not War - an anti-war group set up after the September 11 attacks - said he was surprised by the strength of the anti-war voice in Hong Kong.

He said many elderly people in the territory had been victims of war and had told their stories to children. 'Although young people were not in the war in person, they know how terrible a war can be.'

He said Hong Kong people, however, were not keen in taking part in anti-war activities, with most of them saying they were too busy to get involved.



Eight out of 10 in HK oppose war against Iraq, says survey