Dec 10, 2019
Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute Press Conference – Press Materials
POP releases popularity figures of CE and principal officials
Special Announcements
- The predecessor of Hong Kong Public Opinion Program (HKPOP) was The Public Opinion Programme at The University of Hong Kong (HKUPOP). “POP” in this release can refer to HKPOP or its predecessor HKUPOP.
- POP’s usual practice is to issue releases before the middle and also the end of each year, under the names of “HKSAR anniversary” and “Year-end” survey series for public consumption. Because the handover of Hong Kong occurred on July 1, it may be more appropriate and accurate to analyze macro changes of Hong Kong society using half-yearly rather than yearly figures. The popularity figures of principal officials released today belong to the last of this survey series in 2019 while the last series of the popularity of Chief Executive in 2019 will be released on December 20.
- Tentative release dates of remaining survey topics in 2019 are as follows:
- December 17 (Tuesday) Ethnic identity
- December 20 (Friday) Popularity of CE and SAR Government
- December 23 (Monday) Society’s current conditions and Public Sentiment Index
- December 30 (Monday) Year-end review
Abstract
POP successfully interviewed 1,014 Hong Kong residents by random telephone survey conducted by real interviewers in late November to early December. Latest results show that the popularity rating of CE Carrie Lam now stands at 19.7 marks. Her net popularity is negative 72 percentage points. All popularity figures have not changed much from two weeks ago. As for the Secretaries of Departments, the support rating of CS Matthew Cheung is 25.6 marks and his net popularity is negative 40 percentage points. The support rating of FS Paul Chan is 24.8 marks and his net popularity is negative 40 percentage points. As for SJ Teresa Cheng, her support rating is 14.5 marks and her net popularity is negative 66 percentage points. The rating and net popularity of Matthew Cheung as well as the rating of Paul Chan have registered historical lows since they took office. As for the Directors of Bureaux, all of them register negative net approval rates. Compared to one month ago, the net approval rates of 8 among 13 Directors have gone up and 5 have gone down. Those of John Lee, Patrick Nip and Sophia Chan have changed beyond sampling errors, up by 13, up by 11 and down by 11 percentage points respectively. The net approval rates of Wong Kam-sing, Law Chi-kwong, Sophia Chan and Joshua Law have registered historical lows since they took office. The effective response rate of the survey is 63.2%. The maximum sampling error of percentages is +/-4%, that of net values is +/-6% and that of ratings is +/-2.1 at 95% confidence level.
Contact Information
| Date of survey | : | 28/11-3/12/2019 |
| Survey method | : | Random telephone survey conducted by real interviewers |
| Target population | : | Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above |
| Sample size | : | 1,014 (including 502 landline and 512 mobile samples) |
| Effective response rate[1] | : | 63.2% |
| Sampling error[2] | : | Sampling error of percentages not more than +/-4%, that of net values not more than +/-6% and that of ratings not more than +/-2.1 at 95% confidence level |
| Weighting method | : | Rim-weighted according to figures provided by the Census and Statistics Department. The gender-age distribution of the Hong Kong population came from “Mid-year population for 2018”, while the educational attainment (highest level attended) distribution and economic activity status distribution came from “Women and Men in Hong Kong – Key Statistics (2018 Edition)”. |
[1] Before September 2017, “overall response rate” was used to report surveys’ contact information. Starting from September 2017, “effective response rate” was used. In July 2018, POP further revised the calculation of effective response rate. Thus, the response rates before and after the change cannot be directly compared.
[2] All error figures in this release are calculated at 95% confidence level. “95% confidence level” means that if we were to repeat a certain survey 100 times with different random samples, we would expect 95 times having the population parameter within the respective error margins calculated. Because of sampling errors, when quoting percentages, journalists should refrain from reporting decimal places, whereas one decimal place can be used when quoting rating figures.
Latest Figures
Recent popularity figures of CE Carrie Lam are summarized as follows:
| Date of survey | 30/9-3/10/19 | 16/10/19 | 17-23/10/19 | 1-8/11/19 | 15-21/11/19 | 28/11-3/12/19 | Latest change |
| Sample size | 1,004 | 745 | 1,038 | 1,016 | 1,008 | 1,014 | — |
| Response rate | 64.5% | 80.0% | 63.2% | 69.4% | 74.1% | 63.2% | — |
| Latest findings | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding & error | — |
| Rating of CE Carrie Lam | 22.3 | 22.7 | 20.2 | 19.5 | 19.7 | 19.7+/-1.7 | — |
| Vote of confidence in CE Carrie Lam | 15% | 15% | 11%[3] | 11% | 11% | 10+/-2% | -1% |
| Vote of no confidence in CE Carrie Lam | 80%[3] | 79% | 82% | 82% | 82% | 82+/-2% | — |
| Net approval rate | -65%[3] | -64% | -71% | -71% | -72% | -72+/-4% | -1% |
[3] The difference between the figure and the result from the previous survey has gone beyond the sampling error at 95% confidence level, meaning that the change is statistically significant prima facie. However, whether the difference is statistically significant is not the same as whether they are practically useful or meaningful, and different weighting methods could have been applied in different surveys.
Recent popularity figures of the three Secretaries of Departments under the accountability system are summarized below:
| Date of survey | 2-8/7/19 | 1-6/8/19 | 2-4/9/19 | 30/9-3/10/19 | 1-8/11/19 | 28/11-3/12/19 | Latest change |
| Sample size | 583-641 | 574-580 | 640-679 | 584-649 | 625-656 | 659-671 | — |
| Response rate | 67.4% | 62.8% | 69.5% | 64.5% | 69.4% | 63.2% | — |
| Latest findings | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding & error | — |
| Rating of CS Matthew Cheung | 38.0[4] | 40.1 | 32.1[4] | 31.8 | 28.1[4] | 25.6+/-2.1 | -2.5 |
| Vote of confidence in CS Matthew Cheung | 26% | 28% | 18%[4] | 18% | 17% | 13+/-3% | -4% |
| Vote of no confidence in CS Matthew Cheung | 38%[4] | 27%[4] | 41%[4] | 42% | 46% | 54+/-4% | +7%[4] |
| Net approval rate | -12%[4] | 1%[4] | -23%[4] | -24% | -29% | -40+/-6% | -11%[4] |
| Rating of FS Paul Chan | 29.5[4] | 32.9[4] | 28.0[4] | 26.9 | 27.2 | 24.8+/-2.1 | -2.5 |
| Vote of confidence in FS Paul Chan | 17% | 19% | 19% | 17% | 16% | 16+/-3% | — |
| Vote of no confidence in FS Paul Chan | 57%[4] | 49%[4] | 55% | 59% | 57% | 57+/-4% | — |
| Net approval rate | -40%[4] | -30%[4] | -35% | -42% | -40% | -40+/-6% | — |
| Rating of SJ Teresa Cheng | 21.6[4] | 20.3 | 17.7 | 14.7[4] | 14.1 | 14.5+/-1.9 | +0.4 |
| Vote of confidence in SJ Teresa Cheng | 10%[4] | 11% | 10% | 7% | 7% | 9+/-2% | +1% |
| Vote of no confidence in SJ Teresa Cheng | 68%[4] | 63% | 68% | 75%[4] | 76% | 75+/-3% | -1% |
| Net approval rate | -58%[4] | -53% | -59% | -69%[4] | -68% | -66+/-5% | +2% |
[4] The difference between the figure and the result from the previous survey has gone beyond the sampling error at 95% confidence level, meaning that the change is statistically significant prima facie. However, whether the difference is statistically significant is not the same as whether they are practically useful or meaningful, and different weighting methods could have been applied in different surveys.
Latest popularity figures of Directors of Bureaux under the accountability system are summarized below, in descending order of net approval rates[5]:
| Date of survey | 2-4/9/19 | 30/9-3/10/19 | 29-31/10/19 | 28/11-3/12/19 | Latest change |
| Sample size | 609-689 | 583-633 | 510 | 588-638 | — |
| Response rate | 69.5% | 64.5% | 65.0% | 63.2% | — |
| Latest findings | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding & error | — |
| Vote of confidence in Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau | 33%[6] | 31% | 24%[6] | 26+/-4% | +2% |
| Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau | 23%[6] | 32%[6] | 35% | 29+/-4% | -6% |
| Net approval rate | 10%[6] | -1%[6] | -11%[6] | -4+/-6% | +8% |
| Vote of confidence in Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury James Lau | 19% | 19% | 17% | 18+/-3% | +1% |
| Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury James Lau | 17%[6] | 22%[6] | 24% | 24+/-4% | — |
| Net approval rate | 2%[6] | -3% | -7% | -6+/-5% | +1% |
| Vote of confidence in Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing | 31% | 26% | 23% | 23+/-3% | — |
| Vote of no confidence in Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing | 22% | 24% | 27% | 33+/-4% | +6%[6] |
| Net approval rate | 10% | 2% | -4% | -11+/-6% | -7% |
| Vote of confidence in Secretary for Development Michael Wong | 20%[6] | 17% | 14% | 17+/-3% | +3% |
| Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Development Michael Wong | 21% | 25% | 31% | 30+/-4% | -1% |
| Net approval rate | -1% | -9%[6] | -16%[6] | -13+/-5% | +4% |
| Vote of confidence in Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong | 30% | 25% | 18%[6] | 20+/-3% | +3% |
| Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong | 28% | 30% | 33% | 36+/-4% | +4% |
| Net approval rate | 2% | -5% | -15%[6] | -16+/-6% | -1% |
| Vote of confidence in Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang | 17%[6] | 18% | 17% | 16+/-3% | -1% |
| Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang | 33%[6] | 34% | 35% | 32+/-4% | -3% |
| Net approval rate | -16%[6] | -16% | -18% | -16+/-5% | +2% |
| Vote of confidence in Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan | 38% | 33% | 27%[6] | 22+/-3% | -5% |
| Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan | 20%[6] | 24% | 37%[6] | 43+/-4% | +6%[6] |
| Net approval rate | 18%[6] | 9% | -10%[6] | -21+/-6% | -11%[6] |
| Vote of confidence in Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law | 21% | 21% | 17% | 18+/-3% | +1% |
| Vote of no confidence in Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law | 31%[6] | 32% | 37% | 42+/-4% | +5% |
| Net approval rate | -10%[6] | -11% | -20%[6] | -23+/-6% | -3% |
| Vote of confidence in Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip | 17% | 17% | 12%[6] | 16+/-3% | +4% |
| Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip | 34%[6] | 43%[6] | 50%[6] | 43+/-4% | -7%[6] |
| Net approval rate | -17%[6] | -26%[6] | -38%[6] | -27+/-6% | +11%[6] |
| Vote of confidence in Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan | 21% | 16%[6] | 15% | 17+/-3% | +2% |
| Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan | 43%[6] | 50%[6] | 54% | 50+/-4% | -4% |
| Net approval rate | -22%[6] | -34%[6] | -39% | -34+/-6% | +6% |
| Vote of confidence in Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah | 15% | 14% | 10%[6] | 14+/-3% | +4% |
| Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah | 57%[6] | 58% | 59% | 58+/-4% | -1% |
| Net approval rate | -42%[6] | -43% | -49% | -44+/-6% | +5% |
| Vote of confidence in Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung | 19% | 11%[6] | 11% | 12+/-3% | +1% |
| Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung | 51%[6] | 60%[6] | 60% | 62+/-4% | +2% |
| Net approval rate | -32%[6] | -50%[6] | -48% | -50+/-6% | -2% |
| Vote of confidence in Secretary for Security John Lee | 17% | 14% | 9%[6] | 15+/-3% | +6%[6] |
| Vote of no confidence in Secretary for Security John Lee | 63% | 67% | 73%[6] | 66+/-4% | -7%[6] |
| Net approval rate | -46% | -53% | -63%[6] | -51+/-6% | +13%[6] |
[5] If the rounded figures are the same, numbers after the decimal point will be considered.
[6] The difference between the figure and the result from the previous survey has gone beyond the sampling error at 95% confidence level, meaning that the change is statistically significant prima facie. However, whether the difference is statistically significant is not the same as whether they are practically useful or meaningful, and different weighting methods could have been applied in different surveys.
The latest survey shows that the popularity rating of CE Carrie Lam now stands at 19.7 marks. Her approval rate is 10%, disapproval rate 82%, giving a net popularity of negative 72 percentage points. All popularity figures have not changed much from two weeks ago.
As for the Secretaries of Departments, the support rating of CS Matthew Cheung is 25.6 marks, approval rate 13%, disapproval rate 54%, giving a net popularity of negative 40 percentage points, registering a significant drop of 11 percentage points. The support rating of FS Paul Chan is 24.8 marks, approval rate 16%, disapproval rate 57%, thus a net popularity of negative 40 percentage points. As for SJ Teresa Cheng, her support rating is 14.5 marks, approval rate 9%, disapproval rate 75%, giving a net popularity of negative 66 percentage points. The rating and net popularity of Matthew Cheung as well as the rating of Paul Chan have registered historical lows since they took office.
As for the Directors of Bureaux, all of them register negative net approval rates. The top position goes to Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau, followed by Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury James Lau, Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for Development Michael Wong, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong, Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan, Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip, Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan, Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah, Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung and Secretary for Security John Lee.
Compared to one month ago, the net approval rates of 8 among 13 Directors have gone up and 5 have gone down. Those of John Lee, Patrick Nip and Sophia Chan have changed beyond sampling errors, up by 13, up by 11 and down by 11 percentage points respectively. The net approval rates of Wong Kam-sing, Law Chi-kwong, Sophia Chan and Joshua Law have registered historical lows since they took office.
According to POP’s standard, no one falls under the category of “ideal” or “successful” performer. The performance of Edward Yau, Wong Kam-sing, Sophia Chan, Law Chi-kwong, Joshua Law and Patrick Nip can be labeled as “mediocre”. That of James Lau, Michael Wong and Nicholas Yang can be labeled as “inconspicuous”. John Lee, Kevin Yeung, Lau Kong-wah, Paul Chan, Matthew Cheung and Frank Chan fall into the category of “depressing” performer, while Carrie Lam and Teresa Cheng fall into that of “disastrous”.
The following table summarizes the grading of CE Carrie Lam and the principal officials:
| “Ideal”: those with approval rates of over 66%; ranked by their approval rates shown inside brackets[7] |
| / |
| “Successful”: those with approval rates of over 50%; ranked by their approval rates shown inside brackets[7] |
| / |
| “Mediocre”: those not belonging to other 5 types; ranked by their approval rates shown inside brackets[7] |
| Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah (26%) Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing (23%) Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee (22%) Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong (20%) Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law Chi-kong (18%) Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip Tak-kuen (16%) |
| “Inconspicuous”: those with recognition rates of less than 50%; ranked by their approval rates[7]; the first figure inside bracket is approval rate while the second figure is recognition rate |
| Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury James Henry Lau Jr (18%, 42%) Secretary for Development Michael Wong Wai-lun (17%, 46%) Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung (16%, 48%) |
| “Depressing”: those with disapproval rates of over 50%; ranked by their disapproval rates shown inside brackets[7] |
| Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu (66%) Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung (62%) Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah (58%) FS Paul Chan Mo-po (57%) CS Matthew Cheung Kin-chung (54%) Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan (50%) |
| “Disastrous”: those with disapproval rates of over 66%; ranked by their disapproval rates shown inside brackets[7] |
| CE Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (82%) SJ Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah (75%) |
[7] If the rounded figures are the same, numbers after the decimal point will be considered.
Opinion Daily
In 2007, POP started collaborating with Wisers Information Limited whereby Wisers supplies to POP a record of significant events of that day according to the research method designed by POP. These daily entries would then become “Opinion Daily” after they are verified by POP.
For some of the polling items covered in this press release, the previous survey was conducted from 29 to 31 October, 2019 while this survey was conducted from 28 November to 3 December, 2019. During this period, herewith the significant events selected from counting newspaper headlines and commentaries on a daily basis and covered by at least 25% of the local newspaper articles. Readers can make their own judgment if these significant events have any impacts to different polling figures.
| 2/12/19 | Financial Secretary Paul Chan forecasts a budget deficit in this fiscal year. |
| 1/12/19 | Protesters march along Tsim Sha Tsui. |
| 29/11/19 | The police end its siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. |
| 28/11/19 | US President Donald Trump signs the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. |
| 26/11/19 | The Hung Hom Cross-Harbour Tunnel reopens. |
| 25/11/19 | The pro-democracy camp wins a majority of seats in the District Councils. |
| 20/11/19 | The US Senate passes the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. |
| 19/11/19 | The anti-mask law is ruled to be unconstitutional. |
| 18/11/19 | The police continue to surround the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. |
| 17/11/19 | The police surround the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and clash violently with protesters. |
| 16/11/19 | The People’s Liberation Army clears roadblocks. |
| 15/11/19 | Protesters stay in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. |
| 13/11/19 | The Education Bureau announces that classes will be suspended as conflicts continue. |
| 12/11/19 | Violent conflicts between protestors and the police occur in the Chinese University of Hong Kong. |
| 11/11/19 | A traffic policeman fires three live rounds at a protester. |
| 10/11/19 | Protests and conflicts between protestors and the police occur in multiple districts in Hong Kong. |
| 8/11/19 | HKUST student who fell from height in Tseung Kwan O passes away. |
| 6/11/19 | Vice Premier of the State Council Han Zheng meets with Carrie Lam. |
| 6/11/19 | Junius Ho is attacked with a knife. |
| 2/11/19 | Protests and conflicts break out on Hong Kong Island. |
| 29/10/19 | Nomination of Joshua Wong for District Council election is ruled to be invalid. |
Data Analysis
The latest survey shows that the popularity rating of CE Carrie Lam now stands at 19.7 marks. Her net popularity is negative 72 percentage points. All popularity figures have not changed much from two weeks ago.
As for the Secretaries of Departments, the support rating of CS Matthew Cheung is 25.6 marks and his net popularity is negative 40 percentage points. The support rating of FS Paul Chan is 24.8 marks and his net popularity is negative 40 percentage points. As for SJ Teresa Cheng, her support rating is 14.5 marks and her net popularity is negative 66 percentage points. The rating and net popularity of Matthew Cheung as well as the rating of Paul Chan have registered historical lows since they took office.
As for the Directors of Bureaux, all of them register negative net approval rates. Compared to one month ago, the net approval rates of 8 among 13 Directors have gone up and 5 have gone down. Those of John Lee, Patrick Nip and Sophia Chan have changed beyond sampling errors, up by 13, up by 11 and down by 11 percentage points respectively. The net approval rates of Wong Kam-sing, Law Chi-kwong, Sophia Chan and Joshua Law have registered historical lows since they took office.