HKU POP SITE releases the latest findings on the popularity of CE Tung Chee-hwa, people's appraisal of the performance of the Hong Kong SAR Government and members of the Legislative Council in generalBack

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 results of the popularity of CE Tung Chee-hwa, people's appraisal of the performance of the Hong Kong SAR Government and members of the Legislative Council in general. 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.
** Collapsed from a 5-point scale.

Results showed that the latest rating of CE Tung Chee-hwa registered in late October was 44.1 marks. Meanwhile, 65% of the respondents did not support Tung as the Chief Executive, whereas 17% did. On the other hand, 45% were dissatisfied with Tung's policy direction, 12% were satisfied. Recent figures on people's appraisal of the performance of the HKSAR Government and members of the Legislative Council in general were 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.
** Collapsed from a 5-point scale.

Regarding people's appraisal of the overall performance of the HKSAR Government, the latest figures revealed that 48% were dissatisfied, whereas 17% were satisfied. Of the 5 specific indicators, people were most dissatisfied with the government's performance in maintaining economic prosperity and improving people's livelihood, both attaining a dissatisfaction rate of 53%. Their pace of democratic development and protection of human rights and freedom followed behind, with dissatisfaction rates of 42% and 36% respectively. People were most satisfied with the government's handling of its relation with the Central Government, as 52% were satisfied, and 16% were dissatisfied. It was the only item with more people satisfied than dissatisfied. Finally, 34% were dissatisfied with the overall performance of the LegCo members, while 15% were satisfied.

Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, made the following analysis: "Our survey has found that people's general dissatisfaction with the government has subsided to that of a year ago. Their dissatisfaction with the government's maintenance of economic prosperity, in particular, has even dropped back to that of two years ago. The popularity of CE Tung, however, has also dropped, after its gradual recovery in recent months. He is now floating near the 45-mark credibility crisis level, which is roughly equal to his average score for the first half of 2003, or the 6 months before the July 1 Demonstration. It seems that if Tung is to get out of this difficult situation, he will have to do much more in answering people's political and economic demands at the same time."

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 November 4, 2003, Tuesday, at 2 pm, the latest results of our subjective social and rule of law indicators will be released. Amongst them, the degree of "civilization", "corruption-free practices", "equality", "efficiency", "social welfare sufficiency" and "public order", will also be released on-line for the first time.

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.