HKU POP SITE releases the latest popularity figures of CE Tung Chee-hwa and members of the Executive CouncilBack


Press Release on August 10, 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 popularity figures of CE Tung Chee-Hwa and members of the Executive Council. Recent figures are summarized as follows:

 
 Date of survey 2-4/2 21-24/6 2-5/7 26-29/7 2-8/8 Latest change
 Sample base 1,031 1,023 1,026 1,005 1,011 --
 Overall response rate 63.5% 63.9% 63.0% 60.6% 59.4% --
 Sampling error of ratings (at 95% conf. level)* +/- 1.4 +/- 1.4 +/- 1.4 +/- 1.4 +/- 1.4 --
 Sampling error of percentages (at 95% conf. level)* +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% --
 Support rating of CH Tung 45.4 45.7 44.4 48.3 46.7 -1.6
 Vote of no confidence in CH Tung 64% 59% 66% 62% 59% -3%
 Vote of confidence in CH Tung 15% 17% 16% 20% 21% +1%
 Considered Tung was doing a good job** 14% -- -- -- 18% +4%
 Considered Tung was doing a bad job ** 45% -- -- -- 44% -1%
 Considered Exco members were doing a good job**^ 15% -- -- -- 23% +8%
 Considered Exco members were doing a bad job **^ 32% -- -- -- 27% -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.
** Collapsed from a 5-point scale. The question used was "Do you think XXX is doing a good job as [his/her title]?"
^ Including Leung Chun-ying, Selina Chow, Jasper Tsang, Cheng Yiu-tong and Liao Cheung-sing.

 

Results of surveys conducted in early August revealed that the latest popularity ratings of CE Tung Chee-hwa was 46.7 marks. Meanwhile, 59% of the respondents did not support Tung as the Chief Executive, whereas 21% did. By use of a 5-point scale, 18% of the respondents thought Tung was doing a good job as the CE, as contrast to 44% who held the opposite view. Regarding the overall performance of non-official members of the Executive Council, 23% thought they were doing a good job while 27% thought they were doing a bad job.

 

Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, observed: "Our latest tracking survey shows that Tung Chee-hwa's popularity has dropped back a bit, after its big surge in late July. It seems that he is now safe from the credibility crisis level of 45 marks. As for the popularity of non-official members of the Executive Council in general, although their rating is still low, but it is already at record high since the beginning of this research series two years ago, probably due to the recent more relaxed political environment."

 

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. From tomorrow onwards, we will release the latest results of the Legislative Council election rolling survey every day at 2 pm via our POP site, until the election ends. Results of our regular surveys will still be released during this period of time. The date and time of our next release of regular survey findings will be August 12, 2004, Thursday, at 2 pm, the latest figures on the popularity of Principal Officials under the accountability system will be released, while the latest ratings of the top 10 Legislative Councillors will be released on August 17, 2004, Tuesday, at 2 pm.

 

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.