HKU POP SITE releases the latest figures 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 figures 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 November was 44.2 marks. Meanwhile, 65% of the respondents did not support Tung as the Chief Executive, whereas 19% 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 64.5, 56.3 and 47.6 marks in respective orders. 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 61.1 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 58.5 and 55.9 marks respectively. Secretary for Education and Manpower Arthur Li Kwok-cheung and Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping ranked 4th and 5th, attaining 52.5 and 51.7 marks correspondingly. Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong Wing-ping, Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands Michael Suen Ming-yeung and Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Yeoh Eng-kiong followed behind, scoring 49.5, 48.3 and 45.8 marks correspondingly. The 9th and 10th places fell to Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung and Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Frederick Ma Si-hang, with popularity ratings of 44.7 and 44.6 marks respectively.

Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, made the following analysis: "During the survey period, recent controversies surrounding 'Hong Kong Harbour Fest' and Michael Wong Kin-chow were yet to be settled. According to our figures, the popularity of all Principal Officials, except FS Henry Tang, has slightly increased. Henry Tang lost 2.6 marks, probably due to problems surrounding 'Hong Kong Harbour Fest'. This also indicates that his honeymoon period with the people has ended, and it is time for him to be serious in handling economic issues. Meanwhile, there was no significant change in CE Tung's popularity, which still floats around the 45-mark credibility crisis level."

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 18, 2003, Tuesday, at 2 pm, the latest popularity ratings of the top 10 Legislative Councillors, and the latest findings on people's appraisal of press freedom and media performance 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.