Hong Kong upgraded to 'flawed democracy' on Economist index
The improvement was credited to an increase in the level of influence that the general electorate had over the outcome of last year’s Legislative Council elections. Voter turnout was also higher than in 2008, the report said.
Hong Kong was no longer a "hybrid regime", but now ranked higher as a "flawed democracy", according to a new worldwide index published on Wednesday.
The improvement was credited to an increase in the level of influence that the general electorate had over the outcome of last year’s Legislative Council elections. Voter turnout was also higher than in 2008, the report said.
“Directly elected legislators now account for more than half of all positions, and the 2012 race for chief executive was more open than in the past and was clearly influenced by public opinion,” said Simon Baptist, EIU regional director for Asia.
“Hong Kong's vibrant non-governmental organisations, judicial independence, social tolerance and free media continue also to contribute towards its democracy score.”
The annual index analyses the state of democracy on a 0-to-10 point scale. The scores are based on 60 indicators in five categories, including electoral process and pluralism; civil liberties; functionality of government; political participation; and political culture.
“Full democracies” score 8 to 10 points; “flawed democracies” 6 to 7.9; and “hybrid regimes” 4 to 5.9. Countries with a score lower than 4 are considered “authoritarian regimes”. Hong Kong scored 6.42 last year compared with 5.92 in 2011.
