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Note: This article represents the view of the author and not the University of Hong Kong.

Since the author was attending an international conference overseas, he could only deliver a written speech in this conference. Also, as the author could not present his ideas in person, it would be better for him to have a brief discussion on the direction of the constitutional reform in Macau, instead of an in-depth treatise on this topic. As a matter of fact, viewing the matter from the principle of "Macau people ruling Macau", the constitutional reform in Macau should be an important matter to be decided by Macau society on its own. Academics and friends from Hong Kong can at best offer some outsiders' views and perspectives for reference by the Macau people.

Similarly, under the principle of "one country, two systems", the constitutional reform in Macau should also be resolved within the Macau Special Administrative Region and the framework of the Basic Law. The further the Central People's Government can stay away from this matter, the greater success of the principle of "one country, two systems" can be revealed. It is of course not an easy gesture. This is because both groups of people who demand or reject reforms hope to influence the Central People's Government in order to strengthen their own bargaining power. If this is really so, this will be a very unwise tactic.

In the author's view, under the principle of "one country, two systems", the Macau people should try their best to participate and express their opinions. No matter when one judges from the perspective of western democratic society, or from the perspective of "people-centered ruling" recently emphasized by the Chinese leaders, the Macau people should regard themselves as the master of Macau society and must not escape from their responsibilities.

Based on the same reason, the Public Opinion Programme of the University of Hong Kong has already started conducting on-the-spot public opinion surveys in Macau since 1992. This aims at establishing a scientific mechanism to conduct opinion surveys in Macau, reinforcing the channels for collecting public opinion, fostering the development of opinion surveys in Macau, as well as providing scientific opinion data for all people, especially the Macau people, for comparative studies between Hong Kong and Macau.

Up till now, the Public Opinion Programme has conducted 13 research projects, which are mainly election researches and general public opinion surveys. In mid 2003, under the motivation of Dr Fong Man-tat, representing the Union for Construction of Macau, the Public Opinion Programme reached an agreement with the Union for Construction of Macau and the Macau Association of New Generation to conduct regular public opinion surveys in Macau. As the Union and the Association respect our academic freedom, they let the Public Opinion Programme have the final say in designing the questionnaire and the research method, and the Programme will bear the final responsibility. The author would like to express my gratitude here.

Under the cooperation project, we conducted a random telephone survey in August last year in Macau. The result revealed that the administration of the Macau Government followed the public opinion more closely than the Hong Kong Government's. However, more than half of the Macau people still thought that the Macau Government did not have enough public consultation channels. Therefore, the author would like to suggest that, when the Macau Government is handling important issues, including questions related to the constitutional reform, it needs to provide various channels to consult the opinions of the Macau people openly, and cannot merely rely on the community leaders to aggregate and articulate the opinions. In this way, scientific public opinion surveys have certain reference value.

Hong Kong and Macau have different historical and cultural background. Yet, both places have been evolved from colonies to Special Administrative Regions under the sovereignty of China. Viewing from the angles of politics and life styles, both Hong Kong and Macau should act as bridges between China and the Western countries. The development of a healthy public opinion survey mechanism will be helpful to the future development of China as well.

Viewing the matter from another angle, after the handover, the development of public opinion in Hong Kong and Macau has become closer and closer. It can be expected that Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Macau, Zhuhai, as well as the whole Pearl River Delta, will be developed into one economic-cultural entity. If a common set of social indicator can be developed among Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and Zhuhai regions to monitor changes in the society simultaneously, this will be a successful strategy.

Thus, the author hopes that, while we are discussing the constitutional reform of Hong Kong and Macau within our region, we should also look afar so as to prepare for the cultural integration with the Pearl River Delta in advance.