The legitimacy problem of the Hong Kong SAR government: Challenge and response

Post-handover Hong Kong has witnessed sharp fluctuations in public attitude s toward the government of the new Special Administrative Region (SAR). Man y have raised questions regarding the governance and legitimacy of the SAR government. Some have ever felt that the government has been faced with a s erious legitimacy crisis. This paper reviews and summarizes some of the maj or trends in public opinion toward the SAR government from July 1997 to Jun e 1999. Based on this data it then reek to discuss the current condition of government legitimacy, the challenges facing the ruling administration, an d the strategies employed to cope with these challenges.