Hong Kong youth pragmatic about universal suffrage
A youth group said yesterday most Hong Kong young people had a sense of pragmatism because they agreed with the idea that any decision on the city's political reform must be approved by both Hong Kong people and the central government. The survey by the Hong Kong Youth Association found that 74 per cent of 522 respondents regarded Hong Kong's constitutional development as both Hong Kong's and Beijing's business. The respondents, polled between September 1 and September 29, were aged 18 to 45. On the pace of democratisation, 67 per cent of respondents said they favoured a 'gradual and orderly' manner, an approach which has been highlighted by Beijing.
Only 9 per cent supported introducing universal suffrage in one step. Asked when full democracy should be introduced, 49 per cent would not spell out a date and said it should depend on the general social conditions.
Only 23 per cent hoped universal suffrage would be implemented for the next chief executive and legco elections in 2012. Eight per cent wanted full democracy for the chief executive election in 2016 while 12 per cent supported universal suffrage for Legco in 2017.
Yet another day of high pollution, Mong Kok hit the hardest
Hong Kong experienced another day of high pollution yesterday. The air pollution index recorded very high readings in Central, Mong Kok, Causeway Bay and Kwun Tong. The highest reading - 139 - was recorded in Mong Kok. Visibility at Chek Lap Kok airport dropped to 5,000 metres due to the haze. The Observatory said the city's weather was still under the influence of Typhoon Krosa and conditions would improve tomorrow.
