HKU POP SITE releases the latest figures on the popularity of SAR and Central Governments, and people's confidence in the futureBack


Press Release on July 6, 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 findings on people's trust in the HKSAR and Beijing Central Governments, their confidence in Hong Kong's future, China's future and "one country, two systems". Recent figures are summarized below:

 
 Date of survey 8-11/10/03 20-23/12/03 20-23/2/04 13-16/4/04 21-24/6/04 Latest change
 Sample base 1,004 1,022 1,045 1,022 1,023 --
 Overall response rate 60.8% 66.0% 65.3% 64.4% 63.9% --
 Sampling error of percentages(at 95% confidence level)* +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% --
 Trust in HKSAR Government** 25% 32% 34% 28% 35% +7%
 Distrust in HKSAR Government** 31% 38% 30% 30% 35% +5%
 Trust in Beijing Government** 44% 50% 43% 38% 39% +1%
 Distrust in Beijing Government** 18% 19% 22% 25% 30% +5%
 Confidence in HK's future 52% 61% 62% 58% 60% +2%
 No-confidence in HK's future 34% 25% 23% 29% 26% -3%
 Confidence in China's future 81% 86% 85% 83% 80% -3%
 No-confidence in China's future 9% 7% 7% 9% 11% +2%
 Confidence in "one country, two systems" 53% 56% 57% 50% 48% -2%
 No-confidence in "one country, two systems" 32% 27% 27% 37% 35% -2%

* "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.

 

The survey conducted in late June revealed that the trust and distrust figures in the HKSAR Government were the same, both at 35%. Meanwhile, 39% of the respondents trusted the Beijing Government. On the other hand, 60% of the respondents had confidence in Hong Kong's future and 80% had confidence in China's future, while 48% of the respondents were confident in the "one country, two systems".

 

Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, observed, "The survey was conducted before the July 1 Rally. It seems that people's trust in the SAR Government has recovered to that before the interpretation of the Basic Law by Standing Committee of the NPC, which is already some time ago. People's trust in the Central Government and their confidence in one country two systems, on the other hand, have not recovered. However, judging from the relatively mild statements made by Central Government officials lately, such figures may well rebound in our next round of survey."

 

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 July 13, 2004, Tuesday, at 2 pm, the latest figures on the popularity of CE Tung Chee-hwa, Principal Officials under the accountability system and members of the Executive Council 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.