HKU POP SITE releases the latest survey on Taiwan issuesBack
| Press Release on March 18, 2004 |
|
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 people's opinions towards Taiwan issues. Recent figures are summarized as follows: |
| Date of survey | 17-19/3/03 | 13-18/6/03 | 8-10/9/03 | 10-14/12/03 | 6-9/3/04 | Latest change |
| Sample base | 1,068 | 1,043 | 1,021 | 1,059 | 1,030 | -- |
| Overall response rate | 71.5% | 68.0% | 70.9% | 63.5% | 65.0% | -- |
| Sampling error of percentages (at 95% conf. level)* | +/- 3% | +/- 3% | +/- 3% | +/- 3% | +/- 3% | -- |
| Taiwan independence: Opposition rate | 72% | 66% | 65% | 74% | 71% | -3% |
| Taiwan independence: Support rate | 13% | 16% | 17% | 11% | 12% | +1% |
| No-confidence in cross-strait reunification | 34% | 37% | 48% | 36% | 44% | +8% |
| Confidence in cross-strait reunification | 50% | 46% | 30% | 46% | 35% | -11% |
|
* "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 obtained before the Taiwan presidential election revealed that, 71% of the Hong Kong people interviewed opposed the independence of Taiwan whereas 12% showed support. Meanwhile, 44% were not confident in the ultimate reunification across the strait whilst 35% expressed confidence. |
|
Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, who is now in Taiwan, made the following analysis: "Hong Kong people have consistently objected to the independence of Taiwan, there was very little change in the last three months. However, probably because the debate of unification versus independence has been heated up during Taiwan's presidential election, Hong Kong people's confidence in the final reunification across the strait has dropped significantly by 11 percentage points, which was almost 10 percentage points lower than that before the last presidential election four years ago. Exactly how the result of the election would affect Hong Kong people's view on various Taiwan issues is something worth studying in-depth." |
|
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 our schedule, the date and time of our next release will be March 23, 2004, Tuesday, at 2 pm, the findings on people's opinions towards constitutional reforms will be released 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. |
