HKU POP releases popularity figures of CE and principal officialsBack

Press Release on June 12, 2018

| Detailed Findings (Rating of Chief Executive Carrie Lam) | Detailed Findings (Popularity of Principal Officials) |

Special Announcements

1. From July 2017, apart from sampling landline numbers to conduct opinion surveys, the Public Opinion Programme (POP) of The University of Hong Kong has also added mobile numbers to the sampling frame. After three months of testing, in October 2017, POP formalized the use of mixed samples as its standard for regular opinion surveys using a landline and mobile sample ratio of 4 to 1. Starting from April 2018, POP further increased the proportion of mobile sample, which the landline and mobile sample ratio became 2 to 1. The figures released today by POP have already incorporated landline and mobile samples.

2. To facilitate academic study and rational discussion, POP today released via the "HKU POP SITE" (http://hkupop.pori.hk) the raw data and related respondents' demographics of the latest rating survey of CE Carrie Lam, together with those of regular rating surveys of former CEs CH Tung, Donald Tsang and CY Leung released earlier, for public examination. Please follow normal academic standards when using or citing such data.

Abstract

POP interviewed 1,001 Hong Kong people between 4 and 7 June, 2018 by means of a random telephone survey conducted by real interviewers. Our latest survey shows that the popularity rating of CE Carrie Lam is now at 54.3. Her latest approval rate is 48%, disapproval rate 40%, giving a net popularity of positive 7 percentage points, which has significantly increased by 12 percentage points from two weeks ago. As for the Secretaries of Departments, the latest support rating of CS Matthew Cheung is 51.6 marks. His approval rate stands at 31%, disapproval rate 23%, giving a net popularity of positive 8 percentage points. The latest support rating of FS Paul Chan is 39.5 marks, approval rate 17%, disapproval rate 50%, thus a net popularity of negative 33 percentage points. As for SJ Teresa Cheng, her support rating is 40.0 marks, approval rate 18%, disapproval rate 37%, giving a net popularity of negative 19 percentage points. In terms of popularity rating and net approval rate, Matthew Cheung continues to be the most popular Secretary of Department. As for the Directors of Bureaux, compared to one month ago, the net approval rates of 2 among 13 Directors have gone up, 10 have gone down while 1 remained unchanged. Among them, Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah and Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury James Lau register significant changes in their net approval rates, down by 13, 10, 10, 8, 8 and 6 percentage points respectively. Among all the Directors, Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan, Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung and Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah register negative popularities, at negative 6, negative 9 and negative 20 percentage points respectively. Law Chi-kwong is currently the most popular Director, with a net approval rate of positive 38 percentage points. According to POP's standard, no one falls under the category of "ideal" or "successful" performer. The performance of Carrie Lam, Law Chi-kwong, Sophia Chan, Wong Kam-sing, Matthew Cheung, Frank Chan, Kevin Yeung, Lau Kong-wah and Teresa Cheng can be labeled as "mediocre". That of Joshua Law, Edward Yau, John Lee, Nicholas Yang, Michael Wong, James Lau and Patrick Nip can be labeled as "inconspicuous". Paul Chan falls into the category of "depressing" performer, while no one falls into that of "disastrous". The maximum sampling error of all approval and disapproval rates is +/-4 percentage points at 95% confidence level, while the sampling errors of rating figures and net approval rates need another calculation. The response rate of the survey is 56%.

Points to note:

[1] The address of the "HKU POP SITE" is http://hkupop.pori.hk, journalists can check out the details of the survey there.

[2] The sample size of this survey is 1,001 successful interviews, not 1,001 x 56.3% response rate. In the past, many media made this mistake.

[3] "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. When quoting these figures, journalists can state "sampling error of rating not more than +/-1.8, sampling error of percentages not more than +/-4%, and sampling error of net values not more than +/-6% at 95% confidence level".

[4] Because of sampling errors in conducting the survey(s) and the rounding procedures in processing the data, the figures cannot be too precise, and the totals may not be completely accurate. Therefore, when quoting percentages of the survey(s), journalists should refrain from reporting decimal places, but when quoting the rating figures, one decimal place can be used.

[5] The data of this survey is collected by means of random telephone interviews conducted by real interviewers, not by any interactive voice system (IVS). If a research organization uses "computerized random telephone survey" to camouflage its IVS operation, it should be considered unprofessional.

Latest Figures

POP today releases the latest popularity figures of CE Carrie Lam and various Secretaries of Departments and Directors of Bureaux under the accountability system. From July 2017, POP enhanced the previous weighting method that has been used for quite a few years. Apart from age, gender and education, economic activity group is now also taken into account when adjusting data. The latest figures released today have been rim-weighted according to figures collected in the 2016 By-census regarding the gender-age distribution of the Hong Kong population and the 2017 educational attainment (highest level attended) distribution and economic activity status distribution obtained from the Census and Statistics Department. The mobile sample has also been rim-weighted according to the basic Public Sentiment Index (PSI) figures collected in the landline sample. Herewith the contact information for the latest survey:

Date of survey	Effective sample size	Effective response rate	Maximum sampling error of percentages^[6]
4-7/6/2018	1,001	56.3%	+/-3%

[6] Errors are calculated at 95% confidence level using full sample size. "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. Questions using only sub-samples would have bigger sampling error. Sampling errors of ratings and net approval rates are calculated according to the distribution of the scores collected.

As different questions involve different sub-samples, the sampling errors will vary accordingly. The table below briefly shows the relationship between sample size and maximum sampling errors for the readers to capture the corresponding changes:

Sample size (total sample or sub-sample)	Sampling error of percentages^[7] (maximum values)	Sample size (total sample or sub-sample)	Sampling error of percentages^[7] (maximum values)
Sample size (total sample or sub-sample)	Sampling error of percentages^[7] (maximum values)	Sample size (total sample or sub-sample)	Sampling error of percentages^[7] (maximum values)	1,300	+/- 2.8%	1,350	+/- 2.7%
1,200	+/- 2.9%	1,250	+/- 2.8%
1,100	+/- 3.0%	1,150	+/- 3.0%
1,000	+/- 3.2%	1,050	+/- 3.1%
900	+/- 3.3%	950	+/- 3.2%
800	+/- 3.5%	850	+/- 3.4%
700	+/- 3.8%	750	+/- 3.7%
600	+/- 4.1%	650	+/- 3.9%
500	+/- 4.5%	550	+/- 4.3%
400	+/- 5.0%	450	+/- 4.7%

[7] Based on 95% confidence interval.

Recent popularity figures of CE Carrie Lam are summarized as follows:

Date of survey	15-20/3/18	2-4/4/18	16-19/4/18	4-9/5/18	21-25/5/18	*4-7/6/18*	*Latest change*
Sample base	1,006	1,003	1,001	1,017	1,009	*1,001*	--
Effective response rate	62.5%	57.9%	56.4%	59.5%	55.9%	*56.3%*	--
Finding	Finding	Finding	Finding	Finding	Finding	*Finding and error^[8]*	--
Rating of CE Carrie Lam	56.8	55.6	53.9	57.8^[9]	52.7^[9]	*54.3+/-1.7*	*+1.6*
Vote of confidence in CE Carrie Lam	44%	42%	45%	49%^[9]	39%^[9]	*48+/-3%*	*+9%^[9]*
Vote of no confidence in CE Carrie Lam	41%	44%	41%	35%^[9]	44%^[9]	*40+/-3%*	*-4%^[9]*
Net approval rate	3%	-2%	4%	13%^[9]	-5%^[9]	*7+/-6%*	*+12%^[9]*

[8] All error figures in the table are calculated at 95% confidence level. "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. Media can state "sampling error of rating not more than +/-1.7, sampling error of percentages not more than +/-3%, sampling error of net approval rates not more than +/-6% at 95% confidence level" when quoting the above figures. The error margin of previous survey can be found at the POP Site.

[9] Such changes have gone beyond the sampling errors at the 95% confidence level, meaning that they are statistically significant prima facie. However, whether numerical differences are statistically significant is not the same as whether they are practically useful or meaningful, and different weighting methods could have been applied in different surveys.

Recent popularity figures of the three Secretaries of Departments under the accountability system are summarized below:

Date of survey	1-6/2/18	28/2/18 ^[10]	1-6/3/18	2-4/4/18	4-9/5/18	*4-7/6/18*	*Latest change*
Sample base^[10]	748-796	614	785-815	744-765	532-579	*747-804*	--
Effective response rate	62.5%	67.5%	64.7%	57.9%	59.5%	*56.3%*	--
Finding	Finding	Finding	Finding	Finding	Finding	*Finding & error^[11]*	--
Rating of CS Matthew Cheung	50.8^[12]	--	53.2^[12]	51.0^[12]	51.7	*51.6+/-1.6*	*-0.1*
Vote of confidence in CS Matthew Cheung	36%	--	31%^[12]	28%	32%	*31+/-3%*	*-1%*
Vote of no confidence in CS Matthew Cheung	22%^[12]	--	20%	24%^[12]	23%	*23+/-3%*	--
Net approval rate	14%	--	12%	3%^[12]	9%	*8+/-5%*	*-1%*
Rating of FS Paul Chan	44.3	44.5	42.1^[12]	36.2^[12]	39.8^[12]	*39.5+/-1.8*	*-0.3*
Vote of confidence in FS Paul Chan	26%	30%	24%^[12]	17%^[12]	15%	*17+/-3%*	*+2%*
Vote of no confidence in FS Paul Chan	38%	41%	48%^[12]	61%^[12]	52%^[12]	*50+/-4%*	*-2%*
Net approval rate	-12%	-12%	-24%^[12]	-44%^[12]	-38%	*-33+/-5%*	*+5%*
Rating of SJ Teresa Cheng	34.1	--	37.5^[12]	37.9	39.8	*40.0+/-1.8*	*+0.2*
Vote of confidence in SJ Teresa Cheng	19%	--	19%	14%^[12]	15%	*18+/-3%*	*+3%*
Vote of no confidence in SJ Teresa Cheng	48%	--	43%^[12]	45%	36%^[12]	*37+/-3%*	*+1%*
Net approval rate	-29%	--	-24%	-30%^[12]	-21%^[12]	*-19+/-5%*	*+2%*

[10] The frequency of this series of questions is different from that of CE popularity ratings. Comparisons, if made, should be synchronized using the same intervals. These questions only uses sub-samples of the tracking surveys concerned, the sample size for each question also varies. The survey conducted on 28/2/2018 was the Budget instant survey and only asked rating of FS as well as his vote of confidence.

[11] All error figures in the table are calculated at 95% confidence level. "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. Media can state "sampling error of various ratings not more than +/-1.8, sampling error of percentages not more than +/-4%, sampling error of net approval rates not more than +/-5% at 95% confidence level" when quoting the above figures. The error margin of previous survey can be found at the POP Site.

[12] Such changes have gone beyond the sampling errors at the 95% confidence level, meaning that they are statistically significant prima facie. However, whether numerical differences are statistically significant is not the same as whether they are practically useful or meaningful, and different weighting methods could have been applied in different surveys.

Latest popularity figures of Directors of Bureaux under the accountability system are summarized below, in descending order of net approval rates:

Date of survey	2-4/4/18		4-9/5/18		*4-7/6/18*		*Latest change*
Sample base^[13]	571-621		587-637		*569-646*		--
Effective response rate	57.9%		59.5%		*56.3%*		--
Sample base / Percentage of answer	Base	%	Base	%	*Base*	% & error ^[14]	--
Vote of confidence in Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong	594	49%^[15]	589	46%	*597*	*48+/-4%*	*+2%*
Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong	594	12%	589	11%	*597*	*10+/-2%*	*-1%*
Net approval rate	594	37%	589	34%	*597*	*38+/-5%*	*+4%*
Vote of confidence in Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan	604	53%^[15]	624	52%	*622*	*45+/-4%*	*-7%^[15]*
Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan	604	6%^[15]	624	7%	*622*	*10+/-2%*	*+3%^[15]*
Net approval rate	604	47%^[15]	624	45%	*622*	*35+/-5%*	*-10%^[15]*
Vote of confidence in Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law	621	38%	596	41%	*588*	*38+/-4%*	*-3%*
Vote of no confidence in Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law	621	9%	596	6%^[15]	*588*	*8+/-2%*	*+2%*
Net approval rate	621	29%	596	35%^[15]	*588*	*30+/-5%*	*-5%*
Vote of confidence in Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau	571	42%	587	46%	*584*	*35+/-4%*	*-11%^[15]*
Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau	571	10%	587	10%	*584*	*9+/-2%*	*-1%*
Net approval rate	571	32%	587	37%	*584*	*27+/-5%*	*-10%^[15]*
Vote of confidence in Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing	579	43%	603	40%	*584*	*37+/-4%*	*-3%*
Vote of no confidence in Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing	579	16%	603	12%^[15]	*584*	*18+/-3%*	*+6%^[15]*
Net approval rate	579	27%	603	27%	*584*	*19+/-6%*	*-8%^[15]*
Vote of confidence in Secretary for Security John Lee	585	33%	592	33%	*613*	*30+/-4%*	*-3%*
Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Security John Lee	585	16%	592	16%	*613*	*13+/-3%*	*-3%*
Net approval rate	585	17%^[15]	592	17%	*613*	*17+/-5%*	--
Vote of confidence in Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury James Lau	587	25%	629	25%	*569*	*21+/-3%*	*-4%^[15]*
Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury James Lau	587	6%	629	5%	*569*	*7+/-2%*	*+2%*
Net approval rate	587	19%	629	20%	*569*	*14+/-4%*	*-6%^[15]*
Vote of confidence in Secretary for Development Michael Wong	586	24%	637	24%	*616*	*21+/-3%*	*-3%*
Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Development Michael Wong	586	12%	637	14%	*616*	*12+/-3%*	*-2%*
Net approval rate	586	12%^[15]	637	10%	*616*	*9+/-5%*	*-1%*
Vote of confidence in Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip	572	22%	637	24%	*594*	*18+/-3%*	*-6%^[15]*
Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip	572	16%^[15]	637	15%	*594*	*14+/-3%*	*-1%*
Net approval rate	572	6%	637	9%	*594*	*4+/-5%*	*-5%*
Vote of confidence in Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang	617	25%	607	24%	*580*	*24+/-4%*	--
Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang	617	26%	607	25%	*580*	*24+/-4%*	*-1%*
Net approval rate	617	-1%	607	-1%	*580*	*0+/-6%*	*+1%*
Vote of confidence in Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan	616	29%	608	30%	*637*	*25+/-3%*	*-5%^[15]*
Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan	616	28%^[15]	608	23%^[15]	*637*	*31+/-4%*	*+8%^[15]*
Net approval rate	616	1%^[15]	608	7%	*637*	*-6+/-6%*	*-13%^[15]*
Vote of confidence in Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung	620	30%	592	27%	*587*	*23+/-3%*	*-4%^[15]*
Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung	620	27%^[15]	592	36%^[15]	*587*	*32+/-4%*	*-4%*
Net approval rate	620	3%	592	-8%^[15]	*587*	*-9+/-6%*	*-1%*
Vote of confidence in Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah	606	27%	620	27%	*646*	*21+/-3%*	*-6%^[15]*
Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah	606	42%	620	39%	*646*	*41+/-4%*	*+2%*
Net approval rate	606	-16%	620	-12%	*646*	*-20+/-6%*	*-8%^[15]*

[13] These questions only uses sub-samples of the tracking surveys concerned, the sample size for each question also varies.

[14] All error figures in the table are calculated at 95% confidence level. "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. Media can state "sampling error of percentages not more than +/-4% and sampling error of net approval rates not more than +/-6% at 95% confidence level" when quoting the above figures. The error margin of previous survey can be found at the POP Site.

[15] Such changes have gone beyond the sampling errors at the 95% confidence level, meaning that they are statistically significant prima facie. However, whether numerical differences are statistically significant is not the same as whether they are practically useful or meaningful, and different weighting methods could have been applied in different surveys.

The latest survey showed that CE Carrie Lam scored 54.3 marks, and 48% supported her as CE, her net approval rate is positive 7 percentage points. Meanwhile, the corresponding ratings of CS Matthew Cheung, FS Paul Chan and SJ Teresa Cheng were 51.6, 39.5 and 40.0 marks, and 31%, 17% and 18% would vote for their reappointments correspondingly. Their net approval rates are positive 8, negative 33 and negative 19 percentage points respectively.

As for the Directors of Bureaux, according to the net approval rates, results revealed that the top position goes to Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong, attaining positive 38 percentage points. The 2nd and 3rd places belong to Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan and Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law with net approval rates of positive 35 and positive 30 percentage points respectively. Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for Security John Lee, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury James Lau, Secretary for Development Michael Wong, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip, Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang, Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan, Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung and Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah ranked 4th to 13th, their corresponding net approval rates are positive 27, positive 19, positive 17, positive 14, positive 9, positive 4, zero, negative 6, negative 9 and negative 20 percentage points. In other words, no Director scored a net approval rate of over 50%.

Opinion Daily

In January 2007, POP opened a feature page called "Opinion Daily" at the "POP Site", to record significant events and selected polling figures on a day-to-day basis, in order to let readers judge by themselves the reasons for the ups and downs of different opinion figures. In July 2007, POP collaborated with Wisers Information Limited whereby Wisers supplies to POP each day starting from July 24, a record of significant events of that day, according to the research method designed by POP. These daily entries would be uploaded to "Opinion Daily" as soon as they are verified by POP.

For the polling items covered in this press release, the previous survey of some items was conducted from 4 to 9 May, 2018 while this survey was conducted from 4 to 7 June, 2018. During this period, herewith the significant events selected from counting newspaper headlines and commentaries on a daily basis and covered by at least 25% of the local newspaper articles. Readers can make their own judgment if these significant events have any impacts to different polling figures.

6/6/18	Dishonest practices were exposed in the coupling of steel bars in Hung Hom Station at the Shatin to Central Link.
31/5/18	Ten people are sentenced for rioting in Mong Kok during the Lunar New Year in 2016.
18/5/18	Edward Leung Tin-kei is found guilty of rioting and acquitted of inciting others to riot.
14/5/18	President Xi Jinping supports Hong Kong becoming an international center for innovative science and technology.
11/5/18	First meeting of the Hong Kong-Sichuan Co-operation Conference is held in Chengdu.
7/5/18	The Legislative Council's Bills Committee approves the Express Rail Link co-location bill.
5/5/18	Ted Hui is arrested for snatching an Executive Officer's phone.

Online Opinion Analysis

In July 2017, POP started collaborating with uMax Data Technology Limited to conduct "Online Opinion Analysis". uMax Data would provide technical support concerning social big data to track posts in Facebook pages and various major forums in Hong Kong that mentioned specific political figures or organizations. When public opinion changes very significantly, POP will summarize the popular online posts about the specific political figures or organizations between the two surveys and compile a list of related events. Readers could make their own judgment if the events listed have impact on the related public opinion figures.

Since the latest survey findings reveal that the net approval rate of CE Carrie Lam has changed significantly compared to the figure recorded in the last survey, POP conducted "Online Opinion Analysis" to identify the top ten most discussed issues on the internet. The list of most discussed items after eliminating duplications is as follows:

CE Carrie Lam urged foreigners to be skeptical about the alleged corrosion of Hong Kong's autonomy.

A U.S. Department of State report said CE Carrie Lam refused to hand over a fugitive to the U.S. following a request by the Central People's Government.

Citizens demanded CE Carrie Lam to condemn the mainland police's violence inflicted on a Hong Kong journalist.

CE Carrie Lam said the government was willing to formulate policies and shoulder financial responsibility regarding elevators safety.

CE Carrie Lam said she was eager to see that the Tsuen Wan Sports Centre will be open soon.

Jasper Tsang said CE Carrie Lam's popularity would "skyrocket" if she took back the Fanling golf course for housing.

Netizens discussed how CE Carrie Lam would not formulate policies to bring down property prices.

Netizens compared the performance of CE Carrie Lam and the previous CEs.

Netizens discussed CE Carrie Lam's refusal to answer what her mother tongue was.

The results show that online public opinion had been discussing various issues. Whether or not these items could sufficiently explain the changes in CE popularity ratings, readers could form their own judgment.

Commentary

Note: The following commentary was written by Senior Data Analyst of POP, Edward Tai.

Our latest survey shows that the popularity rating of CE Carrie Lam is now at 54.3. Her latest approval rate is 48%, disapproval rate 40%, giving a net popularity of positive 7 percentage points, which has significantly increased by 12 percentage points from two weeks ago.

As for the Secretaries of Departments, the latest support rating of CS Matthew Cheung is 51.6 marks. His approval rate stands at 31%, disapproval rate 23%, giving a net popularity of positive 8 percentage points. The latest support rating of FS Paul Chan is 39.5 marks, approval rate 17%, disapproval rate 50%, thus a net popularity of negative 33 percentage points. As for SJ Teresa Cheng, her support rating is 40.0 marks, approval rate 18%, disapproval rate 37%, giving a net popularity of negative 19 percentage points. In terms of popularity rating and net approval rate, Matthew Cheung continues to be the most popular Secretary of Department.

As for the Directors of Bureaux, compared to one month ago, the net approval rates of 2 among 13 Directors have gone up, 10 have gone down while 1 remained unchanged. Among them, Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah and Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury James Lau register significant changes in their net approval rates, down by 13, 10, 10, 8, 8 and 6 percentage points respectively. Among all the Directors, Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan, Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung and Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah register negative popularities, at negative 6, negative 9 and negative 20 percentage points respectively. Law Chi-kwong is currently the most popular Director, with a net approval rate of positive 38 percentage points.

According to POP's standard, no one falls under the category of "ideal" or "successful" performer. The performance of Carrie Lam, Law Chi-kwong, Sophia Chan, Wong Kam-sing, Matthew Cheung, Frank Chan, Kevin Yeung, Lau Kong-wah and Teresa Cheng can be labeled as "mediocre". That of Joshua Law, Edward Yau, John Lee, Nicholas Yang, Michael Wong, James Lau and Patrick Nip can be labeled as "inconspicuous". Paul Chan falls into the category of "depressing" performer, while no one falls into that of "disastrous".

The following table summarizes the grading of CE Carrie Lam and the principal officials for readers' easy reference:

"Ideal": those with approval rates of over 66%; ranked by their approval rates shown inside brackets

"Successful": those with approval rates of over 50%; ranked by their approval rates shown inside brackets

"Mediocre": those not belonging to other 5 types; ranked by their approval rates shown inside brackets

CE Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (48%)^[16]; Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong (48%) ^[16]; Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee (45%); Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing (37%); CS Matthew Cheung Kin-chung (31%); Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan (25%); Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung (23%); Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah (21%); SJ Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah (18%)

"Inconspicuous": those with recognition rates of less than 50%; ranked by their approval rates; the first figure inside bracket is approval rate while the second figure is recognition rate

Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law Chi-kong (38%, 46%); Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah (35%, 44%); Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu (30%, 43%); Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung (24%, 47%); Secretary for Development Michael Wong Wai-lun (21%, 34%)^[17]; Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury James Henry Lau Jr (21%, 28%)^[17]; Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip Tak-kuen (18%, 33%)

"Depressing": those with disapproval rates of over 50%; ranked by their disapproval rates shown inside brackets

FS Paul Chan Mo-po (50%)

"Disastrous": those with disapproval rates of over 66%; ranked by their disapproval rates shown inside brackets

[16] In two decimal places, the respective approval rates of CE Carrie Lam and Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong are 47.58% and 47.57%.

[17] In one decimal place, the respective approval rates of Secretary for Development Michael Wong and Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury James Lau are 21.4% and 21.0%.

Future Release (Tentative)

June 19, 2018 (Tuesday) 12pm to 2pm: Hong Kong People's Ethnic Identity, Ratings of the Best Corporations

Reference - Technical Notes of "Online Opinion Analysis"

Technically, POP research team firstly determines and inputs related keywords to be searched on the platform provided by uMax Data. POP then selects targeted online platforms to be monitored (currently selected: Facebook and forums), and extract the top five most discussed items on each online platform, thus come up with a list of 10 items in total. By eliminating duplications in the top ten items, POP compiles a table which is included in the press release for readers' reference.