HKU POP SITE releases the latest findings on the popularity of CE Tung Chee-hwa and Principal Officials under the accountability systemBack

The Public Opinion Programme (POP) at the University of Hong Kong today releases on schedule via the "HKU POP SITE" (http://hkupop.pori.hk) the latest findings on the popularity of CE Tung Chee-hwa and Principal Officials under the accountability system. Recent figures on the popularity of Tung are summarized as follows:

* "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

Results showed that the latest rating of CE Tung Chee-hwa registered in early September was 44.9 marks, representing a significant increase of 1.5 marks from that of mid-August. Meanwhile, 64% of the respondents did not support Tung as the Chief Executive, whereas 18% did. The popularity ratings of Principal Officials under the accountability system for the same period are summarized as follows:

* "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
** Ratings with less than 50% recognition rates are taken as not representative

With respect to the three Secretaries, the ratings of CS Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, FS Henry Tang Ying-yen and SJ Elsie Leung Oi-sie were 62.7, 58.2 and 47.2 marks respectively. As for the Directors of Bureaux, because it is POP's long established practice not to treat ratings of persons with less than 50% benchmark recognition rate as representative, the rating of Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology John Tsang Chun-wah cannot be meaningfully discussed in this survey, and has been listed separately in our summary tables. Results revealed that the most popular official remained to be Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung, who scored 59.4 marks. Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong and Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Stephen Ip Shu-kwan ranked 2nd and 3rd, with popularity ratings of 58.0 and 55.0 marks respectively. Secretary for Education and Manpower Arthur Li Kwok-cheung, Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping and Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong Wing-ping ranked from 4th to 6th, attaining 52.9, 50.8 and 50.5 marks correspondingly. Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands Michael Suen Ming-yeung ranked 7th, scoring 49.2 marks. The 8th to the 10th places fell to Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Yeoh Eng-kiong, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung and Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Frederick Ma Si-hang, with popularity ratings of 44.4, 43.0 and 42.9 marks correspondingly.

As for the popularity indicators based on respondents' hypothetical votes for the reappointment or dismissal of specific Principal Officials, findings obtained since March are summarized as follows:

* "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
[ ] Vote for dismissal

Results showed that, the proportions of respondents who would vote for the reappointment of Donald Tsang, Henry Tang and Elsie Leung were 71%, 50% and 29% respectively. As for the Directors of Bureaux, only Sarah Liao, Stephen Ip and Ambrose Lee scored a reappointment rate of over 50%, at 70%, 56% and 52% correspondingly.

Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, made the following analysis: "The popularity of CE Tung Chee-hwa has continued to climb in early September, but it has yet to break the 45-mark credibility crisis level. Whether the government's decision to withdraw the National Security Bill would further push up Tung's popularity is yet to be seen. As for the popularity of the Principal Officials, the newly appointed Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology John Tsang had better work fast, because less than 30% of the respondents could give him a rating. On the other front, both FS Henry Tang and Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee seem to have enjoyed fairly positive appraisals from the people. Apparently it pays to restructure the leadership."

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 September 16, 2003, Tuesday, at 2 pm, the latest findings on people's satisfaction with the current social conditions and their opinions towards Taiwan issues will be released.

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.