The majority of Macao residents believe that the September 23 election for the second Legislative Assembly (LA) was held in a fair, just and honest manner, according to a sample survey conducted by the University of Macao.
A total of 1,285 local residents were phoned and asked questions concerning the election, including whether or not they voted and what criterion they used to make their decision.
About 70.3 percent of the surveyed people said the election was "honest." About 71.2 percent of them said that it was "fair." And 73.9 percent of them felt that it was "just."
The survey indicates that the candidates' performance, plans and which social stratum they stood for influenced the majority of voters.
Nearly 70 percent of those surveyed were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the attentive arrangements made by the local government for the LA election, the first since Macao returned to China at the end of 1999.
Twenty people have been elected members of the new LA, including 13 members of the current LA.
The 27-seat LA will also include seven members appointed by the chief executive of the special administrative region.
(chinadaily 10/05/2001)
