'Convincing Majority' Want Independent Inquiry

The Project Citizens Foundation, an organisation co-founded by former Chief Secretary Anson Chan, says there's a "very convincing majority" that believes an independent commission of inquiry should be set up to look into the unrest and violence stemming from the now-suspended extradition bill.

The foundation commissioned veteran pollster Robert Chung's Public Opinion Research Institute to gauge the public's views on the extradition saga.

The institute surveyed 1,000 Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong residents, and found that around 80 percent of respondents said an independent inquiry should be established while 73 percent said the government should completely withdraw the extradition bill.

The foundation's chairman, Tsim Tak-lung, said public opinion is crystal clear.

"There is a very convincing majority among the people of Hong Kong, especially the respondents to this survey, for an independent inquiry, an independent commission," he said.

He said the commission should investigate not just the use of force on the part of the police but the use of force generally, as well as the cause of the recent turmoil.