A CUHK student organisation held a mock survey in order to show how it felt about the 2017 election plan.
The online questionnaire, created by the Youth Civil Society, consists of multiple-choice questions asking the respondent their opinions on the proposed election plan for 2017, reports Ming Pao.
The proposed system would allow Hong Kong residents to vote for just two to three candidates selected by a nominating committee.
The Youth Civil Society, along with many pro-democracy groups, believes that Beijing is offering Hong Kong a “false” choice between the pre-approved nominees.
The six-question survey gives respondents three different answers to choose from, none of which actually offer meaningful choices.
Take for example, the following questions:
Do you believe this proposal would bring a fair election and universal suffrage to Hong Kong?
a) Yes.
b) We must make it happen! [A reference to the slogan the government has been using the promote the election plan]
c) This is an opportunity not to be missed
If the proposal is not changed in the future, what do you think?
a) This is universal suffrage according to the Basic Law framework
b) We’ll have “one man, one vote” – what more do you want?
c) Just keep it like that forever so we can save ourselves the trouble.
See the full online questionnaire (in Chinese) here.
The only mandatory question is the final one, which asks for the respondent’s view of the survey itself.
The questionnaire received mixed responses since its sarcastic tone went over the head of some participants.
The creator of the survey told Apple Daily that the point is to illustrate that the government’s proposal, in his view, does not give voters a real choice.
“Everyone’s reaction shows exactly what the problem is: that people have no real choice and are angry about”, he said.
Photo: League of Women Voters of California via Flickr
