HKU POP SITE releases the latest results of people's appraisal of the performance of the HKSAR Government in different aspectsBack
| Press Release on August 5, 2003 |
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The Public Opinion Programme (POP) at the University of Hong Kong today releases, for the first time via the "HKU POP SITE" (http://hkupop.pori.hk), the latest results of people's appraisal of the performance of the HKSAR Government in 5 different aspects, namely, maintaining economic prosperity, improving people's livelihood, pace of democratic development, protecting human rights and freedom, and handling of its relation with the Central Government. This series of polls has been conducted regularly and frequently by the POP Team since July 1997. Detailed figures are now available on-line, while the latest results regarding the overall performance of the HKSAR Government have been released some time ago. Some key findings are summarized as follows: |
| Date of survey | Second half of 1997 | 20-23/1 | 17-19/3 | 15-20/5 | 14-16/7 |
| Sample base | 3,181 | 1,049 | 1,068 | 1,067 | 1,073 |
| Response rate | 43.4% | 66.2% | 71.5% | 65.1% | 69.2% |
| Sampling error of percentages(at 95% confidence level)* | +/- 3% | +/- 3% | +/- 3% | +/- 3% | +/- 3% |
| Maintaining economic prosperity: Satisfaction rate ** | 46% | 12% | 9% | 13% | 9% |
| Maintaining economic prosperity: Dissatisfaction rate** | 17% | 66% | 71% | 65% | 75% |
| Improving people's livelihood: Satisfaction rate ** | 28% | 15% | 11% | 17% | 12% |
| Improving people's livelihood: Dissatisfaction rate ** | 25% | 60% | 65% | 55% | 67% |
| Pace of democratic development: Satisfaction rate ** | 24% | 23% | 26% | 27% | 17% |
| Pace of democratic development: Dissatisfaction rate ** | 37% | 46% | 40% | 42% | 59% |
| Protecting human rights and freedom: Satisfaction rate ** | 29% | 26% | 31% | 36% | 23% |
| Protecting human rights and freedom: Dissatisfaction rate ** | 28% | 47% | 36% | 37% | 56% |
| Relation with the Central Government: Satisfaction rate ** | 52% | 47% | 49% | 49% | 39% |
| Relation with the Central Government: Dissatisfaction rate ** | 10% | 18% | 18% | 18% | 28% |
| Overall performance: Satisfaction rate**〔Released earlier〕 | 43% | 19% | 12% | 18% | 11% |
| Overall performance: Dissatisfaction rate**〔Released earlier〕 | 15% | 51% | 59% | 53% | 68% |
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* "95% confidence level" means that if we were to repeat a certain survey 100 times, using the same questions each time but with different random samples, we would expect 95 times getting a figure within the error margins specified
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The findings revealed that, of the 5 indicators, people were most dissatisfied with the government's performance in maintaining economic prosperity, as the latest dissatisfaction rate registered between July 14 and 16 was as high as 75%. The government's performance in improving people's livelihood came second, with a dissatisfaction rate of 67%. The pace of democratic development and the protection of human rights and freedom followed next, with dissatisfaction rates of 59% and 56% respectively. People were most satisfied with the government's handling of its relation with the Central Government, as 39% were satisfied, and 28% dissatisfied. It was the only item with more people satisfied than dissatisfied. |
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Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, made the following comments: "When the SAR Government was first established, it spent practically all its efforts on economic and livelihood issues. Its performance was somewhat satisfactory at the beginning, but after six odd years, people are unhappy with its performance in practically every aspect, except in maintaining good relations with Beijing. It thus seems that if the government is to improve itself, it must pick up itself on all fronts - political, economic and livelihood - while fortifying its relations with the Central Government. At the time when three principal officials are newly appointed, CE can seize the opportunity to re-align his policy directions." |
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POP's normal practice is to release the results of our regular surveys every Tuesday at 2 pm via our POP Site, except during public holidays, each time with a forecast of the items to be released in the forthcoming week. We will review and adjust this operation regularly. According to this schedule, the date and time of our next release will be August 12, 2003, Tuesday, at 2 pm, the latest figures on the popularity of the Principal Officials under the accountability system will be released. Meanwhile, a column article on the public mood after the recent appointment of some principal officials will soon be released. |
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Shall anyone have any question regarding the research design of the surveys published in the POP Site, members of the POP Team will be happy to answer them, but we will not further comment on the findings. Shall any person or journalist have any other questions, please email them to us at <[email protected]>. The Director of Public Opinion Programme would answer them as soon as possible. We will keep such an arrangement under constant review, suggestions most welcome. Please note that everything carried in the POP Site does not represent the stand of the University of Hong Kong. Dr Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, is responsible for everything posted herewith, except for column articles which represent the stand of their authors. |
