HKU POP SITE releases the latest findings of people's satisfaction with the current social conditions and the survey on Taiwan issuesBack


Press Release on December 14, 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 findings of people's satisfaction with the current social conditions and the survey on Taiwan issues. Recent figures of people's satisfaction with the current social conditions are summarized as follows:

 
 Date of survey 10-14/12/03 6-9/3/04 7-11/6/04 13-15/9/04 6-9/12/04 Latest change
 Sample base 1,059 1,030 1,027 1,023 1,007 --
 Overall response rate 63.5% 65.0% 66.9% 64.4% 67.8% --
 Sampling error of percentages (at 95% conf. level)* +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% --
 Most concerned with economic problems 65% 64% 63% 65% 59% -6%
 Most concerned with social problems 22% 17% 20% 21% 30% +9%
 Most concerned with political problems 6% 10% 10% 8% 6% -2%
 Current economic condition: Dissatisfaction rate** 62% 43% 55% 55% 49% -6%
 Current economic condition: Satisfaction rate** 11% 14% 16% 14% 12% -2%
 Current political condition: Dissatisfaction rate** 46% 54% 60% 47% 42% -5%
 Current political condition: Satisfaction rate** 15% 14% 8% 17% 16% -1%
 Current social condition: Dissatisfaction rate** 42% 39% 45% 39% 38% -1%
 Current social condition: Satisfaction rate** 24% 23% 19% 28% 23% -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 survey conducted in early December showed that 59% of the respondents were most concerned with economic problems these days, 30% with social problems, while 6% attached their greatest concern to political problems. Meanwhile, people's dissatisfaction rates with the current economic, political and social conditions were 49%, 42% and 38% correspondingly.

 

Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, observed: "Compared to three months ago, dissatisfaction is going down in all fronts - economic, political and social. Dissatisfaction rates, however, are still much higher than satisfaction rates, especially for the economic and political environment. Although people are still more concerned with economic problems than anything else, their concern with social issues has gone up to a new high in recent years, probably due to the recent West Kowloon and Hunghom Peninsula controversies. The developers' recent decision not to demolish the Hunghom Peninsula should have calmed down people's dissatisfaction, but they are not yet reflected in this set of figures."

 

The latest figures of people's opinions towards Taiwan issues are summarized as follows:

 
 Date of survey 10-14/12/03 6-9/3/04 7-11/6/04 13-15/9/04 6-9/12/04 Latest change
 Sample base 1,059 1,030 1,027 1,023 1,007 --
 Overall response rate 63.5% 65.0% 66.9% 64.4% 67.8% --
 Sampling error of percentages (at 95% conf. level)* +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% --
 Taiwan independence: Opposition rate 74% 71% 73% 75% 78% +3%
 Taiwan independence: Support rate 11% 12% 11% 12% 11% -1%
 No-confidence in cross-strait reunification 36% 44% 41% 45% 43% -2%
 Confidence in cross-strait reunification 46% 35% 40% 39% 42% +3%
 Believed "one country, two systems" was applicable to TW 46% 40% 37% 44% 45% +1%
 Believed "one country, two systems" was not applicable to TW 32% 35% 37% 36% 37% +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.

 

Results obtained in early December revealed that, 78% of the Hong Kong people interviewed opposed the independence of Taiwan whereas 11% showed support. Meanwhile, 43% were not confident in the ultimate reunification across the strait whilst 42% expressed confidence. As for the applicability of "one country, two systems" to Taiwan, 45% gave a positive view while 37 % gave a negative view.

 

Robert Chung observed again: "The survey was completed before the legislative elections in Taiwan. Hong Kong people's opposition to the independence of Taiwan has reached a record high since these surveys began in June 1993, obviously a negative reaction to Chen Shui-bian's election vocabulary and his urge for a re-titling of Taiwan companies and embassies. People are divided in terms of their confidence in the ultimate reunification across the strait, and the applicability of one country, two systems to Taiwan. However, with the pan-blue camp winning the majority of seats in the legislative elections, Hong Kong people's view may well change."

 

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. The date and time of our next release will be December 21, 2004, Tuesday, at 2 pm, the latest results on people's expectation of the eighth Policy Address of CE Tung Chee-hwa, as well as people's ethnic identity will be released.

 

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.