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. As a general practice, all figures have been weighted according to the gender-age distribution of the Hong Kong population obtained from the 2001 Population Census. 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 March revealed that the latest rating of CE Tung Chee-hwa was 47.9 marks. Meanwhile, 69% of the respondents did not support Tung as the Chief Executive, whereas 18% did. Figures on the latest 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.

Survey conducted in early March showed that, the ratings of CS Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, FS Henry Tang Ying-yen and SJ Elsie Leung Oi-sie were 63.7, 59.7 and 48.2 marks in respective orders. As for the Directors of Bureaux, results revealed that the 1st and 2nd ranks fell to Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung and Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong, attaining 57.5 and 56.4 marks correspondingly. Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food York Chow Yat-ngok, Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Stephen Ip Shu-kwan and Secretary for Education and Manpower Arthur Li Kwok-cheung ranked 3rd to 5th, who scored 54.8, 53.9 and 50.4 marks respectively. Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology John Tsang Chun-wah and Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping followed behind, scoring 49.9 and 48.1 marks correspondingly. The 8th and 9th ranks fell to Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong Wing-ping and Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Frederick Ma Si-hang, who attained 47.6 and 47.2 marks in respective orders. The 10th and 11th places fell to Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands Michael Suen Ming-yeung and Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung, with popularity ratings of 44.5 and 43.3 marks respectively.

@ Erratum: The label of error margins in the original release was mis-typed.

Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, observed, "During the fieldwork period, rumours spread that Tung Chee-hwa would resign from his position as Chief Executive, after becoming a vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. No significant change in Tung's popularity, however, was detected during this period. Tung's popularity went down slightly by 0.5 marks, and those who opposed him as CE remained at 69%. Whereas for the principal officials, CS Donald Tsang has obviously taken a free ride, as his popularity rating went up by almost 3 marks. FS Henry Tang and SJ Elsie Leung have also benefited somewhat, but the popularity of all Directors of Bureaux has gone down. They have obviously suffered from the standstill, and the operation of the entire government has been affected in one way or another."

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 of regular survey findings will be March 15, 2005, Tuesday, at 2 pm, people's opinions towards Taiwan issues will be released. Among them, the issue of Taiwan's rejoining the United Nations will be released online for the first time. Besides, since Financial Secretary Henry Tang will announce his second Budget next Wednesday (March 16, Wednesday), we will release people's instant reactions towards the Budget next Thursday (March 17, Thursday) 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.