Public confidence in Hong Kong's future has shown a marked improvement, according to findings of the latest public opinion poll, which was conducted from Aug. 4 to 8 by the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) and released Friday.  

The survey found that the percentage share of respondents who considered Hong Kong's situation would improve in the coming 12 months has risen to 26 percent (up from 18 percent in May), while the percentage share of those who considered otherwise has decreased considerably by 16 percentage points (from 36 percent to20 percent).

It also found that 46 percent of the respondents were confident that Hong Kong would continue to be prosperous and stable, up from the corresponding figure of 42 percent in the previous survey.

Commenting on the survey findings, an HAB spokesman said, "We are pleased to note that the community are becoming more positive about the future of Hong Kong. This could mainly be attributable to confidence in improvement in Hong Kong's economic situation."

"With our enhanced cooperation with the Pearl River Delta, the signing of the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, the increasing number of Chinese mainland residents visiting Hong Kong in their personal capacities as well as the gradual return of long-haul international travelers, Hong Kong's economy is on the verge of recovery," said the spokesman.

On the other hand, more than half (59 percent) of the respondents were satisfied with their own present condition while 21 percent of the respondents were satisfied with Hong Kong's present situation. The corresponding figures in the May survey are 60 percent and 22 percent, respectively.

The survey was the 105th in the series. A total of 1,473 respondents, aged between 15 and 64, were successfully interviewed over the phone. They were chosen at random through the residential telephone directory.

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2003)