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[Press Release] 

 

Latest 1C2S Index Released: A Step Towards Forgiveness and Healing in Hong Kong

 

Path of Democracy (PoD) today announced the latest round of the "One Country, Two Systems" Index, which stands at 6.17 points, reflecting a slight increase of 2.2% from the previous round. This index provides an objective assessment of the current state of "One Country, Two Systems," based on local public opinion surveys and evaluations from international organizations, comprising six pillars and 24 sub-pillars.

 

Local and International Support for the "One Country, Two Systems" Principle

The current survey shows an upward trend in all three pillar scores: the rating for "High Degree of Autonomy" increased by 5.4% to 5.29 points; the score for "Hong Kong-Mainland Relations" rose by 5.1% to 5.61 points; and the rating for "Human Rights and Freedom" increased by 3.8% to 5.46 points. Among the twelve sub-pillars, all scores showed an increase, with the largest gains seen in "Resolving via dialogue and negotiation" (+10.0%), "Self-conduct of administrative affairs" (+7.1%), and "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" (+6.5%).

 

In terms of "International Perception" compared to the last survey, the score for "Economic Openness" saw a modest increase of 0.4% to 9.35 points; "Civil Liberty" rose by 0.3% to 6.26 points, while the score for "Democratic Development" remained unchanged at 5.06 points. Scores for various sub-pillars experienced fluctuations, with "Democratic culture" showing the largest increase (+10.5%), while "Civic participation" faced the largest drop (-10.6%). Ray Poon, Co-convener (Research) of PoD, noted, " The city’s autonomy was verified by the courts’ impartial handling of controversial cases and local legislation of a national security law. The selection of astronaut for space program and the expansion of individual visit scheme demonstrated the achievement of dialogue between the mainland and Hong Kong."

 

Decreased Momentum for Emigration

The survey also explored citizens' plans for emigration, revealing that the vast majority of respondents (84.1%) do not intend to emigrate. The proportion of those considering emigration has declined by 3.9 percentage points to 14% compared to the previous round. PoD believes that with the implementation of various talent attraction programs by the government, Hong Kong will continue to draw in external talent, contributing to economic development. Furthermore, as Hong Kong residents continue to embrace the trend of "spending in the mainland," there are increased opportunities for citizens to personally engage with national developments. Interest in pursuing opportunities other Greater Bay Area cities has risen from 6.9% to 7.9% in the latest survey. We believe this trend will encourage more residents to explore development opportunities in other cities within the Greater Bay Area.

 

Poll Results Signal a Message of Reconciliation

This round of survey also gathered public attitudes towards the hiring of individuals who participated in the anti-extradition protests, revealing that most respondents (63.2%) believe employers should consider applications from protesters after they have assumed legal responsibility. Convenor of PoD, Ronny Tong, stated, "This result is quite encouraging. It has been over five years since the social rift caused by the events of 2019, and this public opinion survey tells us that it is time to 'forget and forgive.' Hong Kong is an inclusive and united society; while we uphold the spirit of the law, we should also strive to eliminate polarized thinking." Tong urged employers to show more compassion and understanding, giving those who have erred a chance to move forward together, and not to let discriminatory views undermine the job-seeking aspirations of rehabilitated individuals. This aligns with the spirit of "providing fair employment opportunities" and "enhancing social mobility" mentioned in the Third Plenary Session.

 

Using "Track II diplomacy" to Tell the Hong Kong Story

At the meeting, when asked about the PoD's submission in this year's policy address regarding the exploration of "dual-track diplomacy" and how to effectively tell the Hong Kong story, Tong emphasized three key points: "who tells the story, the language used, and the content of the story." He discussed ongoing research regarding foreign investors' views on the business environment, noting that some foreign investors believe that the SAR government's responses to Western criticisms contradict Western thinking, making it difficult to effectively convey information. He further stated, "Communications through civil organizations are often more effective than official channels in engaging with Western societies. Many foreign investors mentioned that friends, family, and even colleagues back home have a limited understanding of the situation in Hong Kong and often worry about their safety here, despite the reality being quite different. If we can tell the story of Hong Kong through civil channels, we can enhance foreign understanding of Hong Kong, clarify misconceptions, and indirectly promote civil exchanges, thereby facilitating smooth economic activities."

 

For the full report and survey results, please refer to: https://pathofdemocracy.hk/en-us/1c2s-index

Photo: (from the left) Ronny Tong (Convenor of PoD), Alan Lung (Co-convenor of PoD – International) and Ray Poon (Co-convenor of PoD – Research)