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


Press Release on August 30, 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 CE Donald Tsang 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 2001 Population Census. Relevant figures are summarized as follows:

 
 Date of survey 20-23/6 4-6/7 25-29/7 1-4/8 22-25/8 Latest change
 Sample base 1,026 1,020 1,014 1,015 1,004 --
 Overall response rate 61.9% 61.9% 64.0% 59.4% 63.5% --
 Sampling error of ratings(at 95% confidence level)* +/- 1.0 +/- 1.0 +/-1.2 +/-1.2 +/-1.2 --
 Sampling error of percentages(at 95% confidence level)* +/- 3% +/- 3% +/-3% +/-3% +/-3% --
 Rating of CE Donald Tsang 72.3 71.4 69.0 67.4 64.8 -2.6
 Vote of confidence in CE Donald Tsang 75% 77% 72% 66% 68% +2%
 Vote of no confidence in CE Donald Tsang 8% 7% 7% 10% 12% +2%
 Satisfaction rate of Tsang's policy direction** -- -- -- -- 48% --^
 Dissatisfaction rate of Tsang's policy direction** -- -- -- -- 6% --^
 Satisfaction rate of SARG performance** 40% -- 44% -- 43% -1%^^
 Dissatisfaction rate of SARG performance** 17% -- 15% -- 20% +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.
^ This item was asked for the first time after Donald Tsang has become the CE, and no comparison can be made.
^^ The polling cycles for these items are different from the rest. Comparisons, if made, should be synchronized using the same cycle.

 

Results of our survey conducted in late August revealed that the latest rating of CE Donald Tsang was 64.8 marks, and 68% supported him as the Chief Executive. Besides, 48% of the respondents were satisfied with Tsang's policy direction. Regarding people's appraisal of the overall performance of the HKSAR Government, the latest figures revealed that 43% were satisfied, whereas 20% were dissatisfied.

 

Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, observed, "The popularity rating of Donald Tsang has continued to drop since late June, now almost down to the level before he became Acting Chief Executive. His support rate, however, is still high at almost 70%. As for people's overall satisfaction of the government, there was not much change over the last month. In case no further incident occurs in Hong Kong in the coming month, the next critical factor which affects CE and SARG's popularity trend would be the forthcoming Policy Address to be delivered by CE in October."

 

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 September 1, 2005, Thursday, at 2 pm, we will release the latest results of people's trust in the HKSAR and Beijing Central Governments, their confidence in Hong Kong's future, China's future and "one country, two systems". Then, on September 6, 2005, Tuesday, at 2 pm, the latest ratings of the most well-known political groups 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.