HKU POP SITE releases the latest popularity figures of CE Tung Chee-hwa and Principal Officials under the accountability systemBack

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 Principal Officials under the accountability system. Recent figures on the popularity of Tung 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.
@ Erratum: The label of error margins in the original release was mis-typed.

Results of our survey conducted in early November revealed that the latest rating of CE Tung Chee-hwa was 49.4 marks. Meanwhile, 55% of the respondents did not support Tung as the Chief Executive, whereas 22% did. Figures on the popularity ratings of Principal Officials under the accountability system are summarized below:

* "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.
** Ratings with less than 50% recognition rates are taken as not representative.
^ Since York Chow assumed office on October 12, the question in the survey from October 4-7was modified as follows: "There are rumours that York Chow will be appointed as the new Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food. Please use a scale of 0-100 to rate your extent of support to him, with 0 indicating absolutely not supportive, 100 indicating absolutely supportive and 50 indicating half-half. How would you rate him?"
@ Erratum: The label of error margins in the original release was mis-typed.

Survey conducted in early November showed that, the ratings of CS Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, FS Henry Tang Ying-yen and SJ Elsie Leung Oi-sie were 62.8, 60.4 and 50.1 marks in respective orders. As for the Directors of Bureaux, because it is POP's long established practice not to treat ratings of persons with less than 50% benchmark recognition rate as representative, the rating of Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology John Tsang Chun-wah cannot be meaningfully discussed in this survey, and has been listed separately in our summary rating table. Results revealed that the most popular officials remained to be Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung and Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong, who scored 60.0 and 59.5 marks correspondingly. Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Stephen Ip Shu-kwan and Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food York Chow Yat-ngok ranked 3rd and 4th, with popularity ratings of 56.0 and 55.5 marks respectively. The 5th and 6th ranks fell to Secretary for Education and Manpower Arthur Li Kwok-cheung and Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping, attaining 53.5 and 51.3 marks. Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong Wing-ping and Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Frederick Ma Si-hang followed behind, scoring 50.5 and 50.1 marks correspondingly. The scores attained by Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands Michael Suen Ming-yeung and Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung were 48.8 and 46.9 marks respectively.

Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, observed, "Our survey shows that CE Tung Chee-hwa's popularity rating has been fluctuating between 48 and 50 marks in the last two months, without any significant breakthrough. On the popularity of principal officials, with a support rating of 55.5 marks and a recognition rate of 52%, the new Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food York Chow is having a good start. This raises the popularity of the whole team, and demonstrates the positive side of personnel change. On the other hand, the recognition rate of the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology John Tsang has remained below 50%, more than a year after his appointment. More effort from Tsang is called for."

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 16, 2004, Tuesday, at 2 pm, the latest ratings of the top 10 Legislative Councillors 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.