Leading Hong Kong pollster plans to limit surveys on sensitive topics, including Tiananmen crackdown

By KANIS LEUNG
Associated Press

HONG KONG (AP) — One of Hong Kong’s most reputable sources of public opinion data is limiting the scope of its surveys, including on sensitive topics such as Beijing’s 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square. The change, following a contact from a government agency, is likely to restrict the availability of information about the opinions of Hong Kong residents. The Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute says it has tentatively decided to cancel about one-fourth of its regular survey questions. The announcement came two weeks after it canceled the release of a survey on the anniversary of the 1989 Beijing crackdown at the advice of the government agency. Critics say it’s a great loss to Hong Kong, once famed for its freedom of expression.