Over 80% of Hongkongers think criticism of gov’t should be allowed, survey finds
Hong Kong Free Press
More than 80 per cent of Hongkongers think people should be able to publicly criticise the government if they disagree with the authorities’ actions, a survey has found.
US think tank Pew Research Center on Monday released results of a questionnaire that surveyed adults in East Asia – specifically Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan – on their views on government criticism.
In Hong Kong, 81 per cent of the 2,000-odd people surveyed said they believed that people who disagreed with what the government was doing should be able to publicly criticise the authorities. Fifteen per cent said they should not be able to.
The proportion was lower than in South Korea and Taiwan, where 83 per cent of those surveyed said people should be able to publicly criticise the government. In Japan, the figure was 68 per cent.
Once common in Hong Kong, mass protests have not taken place since Beijing imposed a national security law following the anti-extradition unrest in 2019. Opposition parties and labour groups who have applied to organise protests have been turned down, while activists have said they have received warnings from national security police ahead of sensitive dates – like the Handover anniversary and China’s National Day – not to hold any activities.
There has also been little public criticism of government proposals and policies. In March, a new security law was fast-tracked through the legislature, saying it was necessary to plug “loopholes” in the Beijing-imposed national security law.
The government’s plan to overhaul the Social Workers Registration Board, the body empowered to approve and reject licenses for the city’s social workers, by giving government-appointed member a majority, saw rare opposition ahead of its passing earlier this month.
Activists staged a petition outside the government headquarters and conducted a survey that found that social workers overwhelmingly disagreed with the amendment.
The Pew Research Center’s questionnaire was conducted between June and mid-September last year, the think tank said.
In 2022, it asked the same question on whether people should be allowed to criticise the government in five South and Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Singapore saw the smallest proportion of respondents in agreement with the statement, with just 55 per cent saying people should be able to publicly criticise the government if they disagreed with its actions.
The figure was highest in Indonesia at 75 per cent, followed by Sri Lanka at 71 per cent.
For the 2023 survey, Pew Research Center also asked for people’s views on two statements to explore their views on how free speech interacted with social unity: “People should be allowed to speak their opinions publicly even if they upset other people,” and “Harmony with others is more important than the right to speak one’s opinion.”
In Hong Kong, 48 per cent agreed with the former, and 50 per cent opted for the latter.
Asked whether they thought society would be better off sticking to tradition or being open to change, Hong Kong respondents were equally split, with 49 per cent on either side.
Hong Kong identity
Separately, Pew Research Centre also asked questions related to how people viewed their identity and the role of different world powers in the international sphere.
Asked if they saw themselves as primarily a Hongkonger, Chinese, or both, 53 per cent of respondents in Hong Kong indicated both.
Thirty-six percent picked Hongkonger, while 10 per cent picked Chinese.
In Taiwan, people were asked if they thought of themselves as primarily Taiwanese, Chinese or both. Most said Taiwanese, with 67 per cent picking this option. Twenty-eight per cent chose both, and just 3 per cent picked Chinese.
When asked how emotionally attached they felt to China, 74 per cent of respondents in Hong Kong said they were very or somewhat emotionally attached. In Taiwan, the figure was 40 per cent.
The think tank also asked people how they perceived the power and influence of the US, Russia and China.
A total of 48 per cent of respondents in Hong Kong said they saw China’s power and influence as a major threat, 37 per cent saw the US as a major threat, and 17 per cent said Russia was a major threat.
Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps
Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team
HKFP has an impartial stance, transparent funding, and balanced coverage guided by an Ethics Code and Corrections Policy.
Support press freedom & help us surpass 1,000 monthly Patrons: 100% independent, governed by an ethics code & not-for-profit.