HKU POP SITE releases the latest popularity figures of CE Tung Chee-hwa and HKSAR GovernmentBack


Press Release on October 26, 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 HKSAR Government. Recent figures on the popularity of Tung are summarized as follows:

 
 Date of survey 21-28/8 1-7/9 20-21/9 4-7/10 18-21/10 Latest change
 Sample base 1,033 1,004 1,051 1,016 1,011 --
 Overall response rate 65.4% 64.5% 62.7% 62.4% 63.3% --
 Sampling error of ratings (at 95% conf. level)* +/- 1.4 +/- 1.4 +/- 1.4 +/- 1.4 +/- 1.2 --
 Sampling error of percentages (at 95% conf. level)* +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% --
 Support rating of CH Tung 47.9 48.3 50.0 49.0 48.9 -0.1
 Vote of no confidence in CH Tung 60% 59% 56% 63% 62% -1%
 Vote of confidence in CH Tung 19% 23% 24% 22% 21% -1%
 Dissatisfaction rate of Tung's policy direction** 40% -- -- -- 33% -7%
 Satisfaction rate of Tung's policy direction** 17% -- -- -- 16% -1%

* "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.

 

Results of our survey conducted in mid-October revealed that the latest rating of CE Tung Chee-hwa was 48.9 marks. Meanwhile, 62% of the respondents did not support Tung as the Chief Executive, whereas 21% did. Regarding people's appraisal of the overall performance of the HKSAR Government, the latest figures revealed that 33% were dissatisfied, whereas 16% were satisfied. Recent figures on people's appraisal of the performance of the HKSAR Government are summarized as follows:

 
 Date of survey 26-29/7 21-28/8 20-21/9 18-21/10 Latest change
 Sample base 1,005 1,033 1,051 1,011 --
 Overall response rate 60.6% 65.4% 62.7% 63.3% --
 Sampling error of percentages (at 95% conf. level)* +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% --
 Dissatisfaction rate of SARG performance** 47% 44% 39% 36% -3%
 Satisfaction rate of SARG performance** 18% 21% 21% 22% +1%
 Improving people's livelihood: Dissatisfaction rate** 49% -- -- 46% -3%
 Improving people's livelihood: Satisfaction rate ** 19% -- -- 20% +1%
 Pace of democratic development: Dissatisfaction rate ** 48% -- -- 40% -8%
 Pace of democratic development: Satisfaction rate ** 22% -- -- 28% +6%
 Maintaining economic prosperity: Dissatisfaction rate ** 46% -- -- 39% -7%
 Maintaining economic prosperity: Satisfaction rate ** 23% -- -- 28% +5%
 Protecting human rights and freedom: Dissatisfaction rate ** 44% -- -- 32% -12%
 Protecting human rights and freedom: Satisfaction rate** 26% -- -- 34% +8%
 Relation with the Central Government: Dissatisfaction rate** 30% -- -- 19% -11%
 Relation with the Central Government: Satisfaction rate ** 38% -- -- 48% +10%

* "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.

 

Regarding people's appraisal of the overall performance of the HKSAR Government, the latest figures revealed that 36% were dissatisfied, whereas 22% were satisfied. Of the 5 specific indicators, a respective of 46%, 40% and 39% of the respondents were dissatisfied with the government's performance in improving people's livelihood, developing democracy and maintaining economic prosperity. On the other hand, regarding the government's performance in protecting human rights and freedom and the handling of its relation with the Central Government, people's satisfaction rate was higher than that of dissatisfaction, with corresponding positive figures of 34% and 48%.

 

Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, observed, "Our survey shows that Tung Chee-hwa's popularity has not changed much over the past two weeks, it hit the benchmark of 50 in late September, and then retracted to hover around 49. People's dissatisfaction of the SAR Government has subsided a bit over the month past, but has improved a lot over a three-month period. In specific terms, the most significant improvements happened in the government's protection of freedoms and human rights, and in the way it handled its relationship with the Central Government."

 

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 of regular survey findings will be November 2, 2004, Tuesday, at 2 pm, people's satisfaction with the performances of the Legislative Council members, the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong garrison and the Hong Kong Police Force 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.