HKU POP SITE releases the latest figures on the popularity of the CE and Principal OfficialsBack

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 of early March showed that, the latest rating of CE Tung Chee-hwa was 45.6 marks. Meanwhile, 62% of the respondents did not support Tung as the Chief Executive, whereas 19% did. Figures on the popularity ratings of Principal Officials under the accountability system are summarized below:

* "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.

Findings showed that, the ratings of CS Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, FS Henry Tang Ying-yen and SJ Elsie Leung Oi-sie were 62.9, 57.4 and 48.1 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 still cannot be meaningfully discussed in this survey, and has been listed separately in our summary rating table. Results revealed that the most popular official remained to be Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung, who scored 59.8 marks. Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong, Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Stephen Ip Shu-kwan and Secretary for Education and Manpower Arthur Li Kwok-cheung ranked from 2nd to 4th, with popularity ratings of 57.4, 54.8 and 50.9 marks correspondingly. The 5th to 7th ranks fell to Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping, Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong Wing-ping and Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Frederick Ma Si-hang, attaining 48.2, 48.1 and 46.4 marks correspondingly. Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands Michael Suen Ming-yeung, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung and Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Yeoh Eng-kiong followed behind, scoring 45.2, 45.0 and 43.3 marks in respective orders.

Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, analyzed: "CE Tung Chee-hwa's rating has again climbed back to the 45-mark level, which is fairly similar to that registered a month ago. Meanwhile, his support rate has almost reached 20%, which can be taken as a slight improvement. These figures, however, were registered before Tung attended the annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the effect of his remarks in Beijing is yet to be seen. As for the popularity of Principal Officials, their relative rankings have been rather stable, except that Yeoh Eng-kiong and Michael Suen have fallen to the bottom and near-bottom of the ladder, obviously due to the SARS investigation and the sale of Hunghom Peninsula."

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. Since Financial Secretary Henry Tang will announce his First Budget tomorrow (March 10, Wednesday), we will release people's instant reactions towards the Budget the day after tomorrow (March 11, Thursday) at 2 pm. Then, on March 16, 2004, Tuesday, at 2 pm, the latest results of people's satisfaction with the current social conditions 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.