HKU POP SITE releases the latest results of various subjective freedom indicatorsBack

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 various subjective freedom indicators. Recent figures 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.

The survey conducted in mid-October revealed that, on a scale of 0-10, the freedoms of "entering or leaving Hong Kong" and "religious belief" scored the highest ratings with 8.46 and 8.45 marks, followed by freedoms to engage in "academic research" and "artistic and literary creation", attaining 8.07 and 7.98 marks correspondingly. Freedoms of "procession and demonstration", "publication" and "association" formed the next tier, with respective scores of 7.34, 7.13 and 7.06 marks. Meanwhile, the freedoms of "press", "speech" and "strike" scored 6.92, 6.88 and 6.54 marks in respective orders.

Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, observed, "The structure of the 10 subjective freedom indicators has not changed much over the past 3 months. Two developments, however, call for attention. First, people's appraisal of Hong Kong's 'freedom of procession and demonstration', and 'freedom to strike' has dropped, meaning that the effect of July 1 has subsided. Second, people's appraisal of Hong Kong's 'freedom of speech' and 'freedom of the press' has remained low, even though there was a slight rebound. This shows that people have not yet recovered their confidence after the departure of some outspoken radio talk show hosts."

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 October 26, 2004, Tuesday, at 2 pm, the latest popularity of CE Tung Chee-hwa and HKSAR Government 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.