HKU POP SITE releases the latest popularity figures of Acting CE and HKSAR GovernmentBack


Press Release on April 26, 2005
 

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 Acting CE and HKSAR Government. As a general practice, all figures have been weighted according to the gender-age distribution of the Hong Kong population obtained from the Population Census. Popularity figures of Donald Tsang are first summarized as follows:

 
  CH Tung's term Donald Tsang's term
 Date of survey 17-20/2 1-3/3 16/3 1-6/4 11-14/4 18-21/4 Latest change
 Sample base 1,026 1,019 1,041 1,024 1,009 1,012 --
 Overall response rate 67.1% 63.1% 65.2% 63.1% 62.8% 66.7% --
 Sampling error of ratings(at 95% conf. level)* +/- 1.4 +/- 1.4 +/- 1.0 +/- 1.2 +/- 1.0 +/- 1.0 --
 Sampling error of percentages (at 95% conf. level)* +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% --
 Rating of CE/Acting CE 48.4 47.9** 70.4 69.3 71.8 68.3 -3.5
 Vote of confidence in CE/Acting CE 16% 18% 68% 69% 73% 72% -1%
 Vote of no confidence in CE/Acting CE 69% 69% 9% 12% 9% 9% --

* "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 parallel rating of Donald Tsang as Chief Secretary was 63.7 marks.

 

The latest survey conducted in mid-April showed that, Acting CE Donald Tsang scored 68.3 marks, and 72% supported him as the Chief Executive. Recent figures on people's appraisal of the performance of the HKSAR Government are tabulated as follows:

 
 Date of survey 24-25/1 17-20/2 16/3 18-21/4 Latest change
 Sample base 1,003 1,026 1,041 1,012 --
 Overall response rate 65.0% 67.1% 65.2% 66.7% --
 Sampling error of percentages (at 95% conf. level)* +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% +/- 3% --
 Satisfaction rate of SARG performance** 17% 20% 31% 31% --
 Dissatisfaction rate of SARG performance** 45% 39% 26% 21% -5%
 Relation with the Central Government: Satisfaction rate ** 41% -- -- 49% +8%
 Relation with the Central Government: Dissatisfaction rate** 27% -- -- 20% -7%
 Protecting human rights and freedom: Satisfaction rate** 34% -- -- 42% +8%
 Protecting human rights and freedom: Dissatisfaction rate ** 34% -- -- 25% -9%
 Maintaining economic prosperity: Satisfaction rate ** 24% -- -- 36% +12%
 Maintaining economic prosperity: Dissatisfaction rate ** 43% -- -- 26% -17%
 Pace of democratic development: Satisfaction rate ** 23% -- -- 33% +10%
 Pace of democratic development: Dissatisfaction rate ** 45% -- -- 34% -11%
 Improving people's livelihood: Satisfaction rate ** 18% -- -- 25% +7%
 Improving people's livelihood: Dissatisfaction rate** 51% -- -- 37% -14%

* "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 31% were satisfied, whereas 21% were dissatisfied. Of the 5 specific indicators, people were most satisfied with the government's handling of its relation with the Central Government and its performance in protecting human rights, attaining satisfaction percentages of 49% and 42% respectively. Meanwhile, a respective of 36%, 33% and 25% of the respondents were satisfied with the government's performance in maintaining economic prosperity, developing democracy and improving people's livelihood.

 

Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, analyzed, "The approval rate of Donald Tsang has remained high at 72%, but his personal popularity rating has dropped 3.5 marks in 7 days. This shows that his public image as Acting Chief Executive is still unstable. In between our last two surveys, the following events might have affected his rating: his vehicle inappropriately cutting lanes, his refusal to attend the House Committee of the Legislative Council to explain his meetings with senior Chinese officials, kicking off the review of CE's remunerations, as well as his performance at local banquets and overseas meetings, may all have affected his image. The popularity of the government, on the other hand, has continued to increase. People's dissatisfaction level has dropped back to that of March 1998, and people's satisfaction rates in all 5 policy areas have recorded significant improvement over the past 3 months."

 

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 April 28, 2005, Thursday, at 2 pm, the latest figures of 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. Then, on May 3, 2005, Tuesday, at 2pm, we will release the latest figures on subjective social and legal indicators.

 

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.