(none)Back
| Press Release on July 31, 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) a new passage "From the Editor", entitled "Professionalism allows no compromise", whereby the Director of POP, Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, asserts the importance of professional ethics and the spirit of science. POP also releases on-line the figures of people's satisfaction with the performances of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong garrison and the Hong Kong Police Force. These polls been conducted regularly by the POP Team since the handover, but they are only included in our regular press release for the first time. All figures collected since September 1997 are now available from the POP Site, they are briefly summarized as follows: |
| Date of survey | 2nd half of 1997 Mean | 1998-99 Mean | 2000-01 Mean | 2002-03 Mean | 26-29/1/04 | 19-22/4/04 | 26-29/7/04 | Latest Change |
| Sample base | 3,181 | 11,053 | 13,753 | 11,594 | 1,056 | 1,029 | 1,005 | -- |
| Overall response rate | 43.4%^ | 47.3%^ | 57.6%^ | 66.0%^ | 65.4% | 61.1% | 60.6% | -- |
| Sampling error of percentages (at 95% conf. level)* | +/- 4%^^ | +/- 4%^^ | +/- 3%^^ | +/- 3%^^ | +/- 3% | +/- 3% | +/- 3% | -- |
| Satisfaction rate of PLA** | 42% | 46% | 50% | 55% | 54% | 56% | 60% | +4% |
| Dissatisfaction rate of PLA** | 5% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 3% | -2% |
| Satisfaction rate of Hong Kong Police Force** | 71% | 67% | 66% | 72% | 75% | 64% | 71% | +7% |
| Dissatisfaction rate of Hong Kong Police Force** | 6% | 7% | 9% | 7% | 5% | 12% | 7% | -5% |
|
* "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. |
|
On a macro level since the handover (please see the online chart with half-yearly averages), people's appraisal of PLA Hong Kong garrison's performance has been steadily on the rise, from about 40% shortly after the handover to about 60%. Results obtained in late July revealed that 60% of the respondents were satisfied with the performance of the PLA stationed in Hong Kong, while only 3% were dissatisfied. As for the performance of the Hong Kong Police Force, the curve is rather flat. By late July, 71% were satisfied and 7% were dissatisfied. |
|
Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, analyzed, "HKPF and PLA are two entirely different disciplinary forces, each serving its own functions and duties. Direct comparison may, therefore, not be appropriate. However, figures show that both forces bear a good image, which should have a positive effect in maintaining our social order and protecting the sovereignty of our nation." |
|
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 August 3, 2004, Tuesday, at 2 pm, the latest popularity figures of CE Tung Chee-Hwa, people's appraisal of the performance of the Hong Kong SAR Government and members of the Legislative Council in general 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 <pop.network@hkupop.pori.hk. 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. |
