Oct 27, 2020
Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute Press Conference – Press Materials
Detailed Findings
Press Release on October 27, 2020
POP releases popularities of CE and SAR Government,
five core social indicators and Public Sentiment Index
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.
According to the result of our public consultation conducted a while ago, the survey of the five core social indicators has been increased to once a month from the second half of this year, while the remaining 20 or so non-core social indicators, freedom and rule of law sub-indicators will remain to be run on a half-yearly cycle.
Abstract
POP successfully interviewed 1,020 Hong Kong residents by random telephone survey conducted by real interviewers in late October. Our survey shows that the popularity rating of CE Carrie Lam now stands at 27.2 marks. Her net popularity is negative 56 percentage points. These figures have not changed much from half a month ago. The latest net satisfaction of the HKSAR Government stands at negative 52 percentage points while the net trust value is negative 35 percentage points. People’s net satisfaction rates with the current livelihood, economic and political conditions are negative 54, negative 61 and negative 66 percentage points respectively. All these figures stay more or less the same as last month. On a scale of 0 to 10, people’s ratings on all five core social indicators are lower than 5 marks. Ranked from the highest to the lowest are “freedom”, “prosperity”, “stability”, “rule of law” and “democracy”. Their scores are 4.60, 4.30, 4.15, 3.82 and 3.61 respectively. Compared with a month ago, ratings of all five indicators have increased while those of “freedom”, “stability” and “rule of law” have increased significantly. As for the PSI, the latest figure is 56.2, down by 4.9 points from early October. The effective response rate of the survey is 62.2%. The maximum sampling error of percentages is +/-4%, that of net values is +/-7% and that of ratings is +/-2.1 at 95% confidence level.
Contact Information
| Date of survey | : | 19-22/10/2020 |
| Survey method | : | Random telephone survey conducted by real interviewers |
| Target population | : | Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above |
| Sample size[1] | : | 1,020 (including 508 landline and 512 mobile samples) |
| Effective response rate | : | 62.2% |
| Sampling error[2] | : | Sampling error of percentages not more than +/-4%, that of net values not more than +/-7% and that of ratings not more than +/-2.1 at 95% conf. 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 2019”, while the educational attainment (highest level attended) distribution and economic activity status distribution came from “Women and Men in Hong Kong – Key Statistics (2019 Edition)”. |
[1] This figure is the total sample size of the survey. Some questions may only involve a subsample, the size of which can be found in the tables below.
[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.
Popularity of CE and SAR Government
Recent popularity figures of CE Carrie Lam are summarized as follows:
| Date of survey | 3-6/8/20 | 17-20/8/20 | 31/8-4/9/20 | 21-24/9/20 | 5-8/10/20 | 19-22/10/20 | Latest change |
| Sample size | 1,001 | 1,020 | 1,007 | 1,013 | 1,002 | 1,020 | — |
| Response rate | 64.4% | 60.9% | 58.4% | 61.5% | 62.8% | 62.2% | — |
| Latest findings | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding & error | — |
| Rating of CE Carrie Lam | 26.9 | 26.8 | 28.1 | 27.5 | 28.6 | 27.2+/-2.1 | -1.3 |
| Vote of confidence in CE Carrie Lam | 19% | 24%[3] | 21% | 17% | 18% | 18+/-2% | -1% |
| Vote of no confidence in CE Carrie Lam | 72% | 70% | 69% | 71% | 72% | 74+/-3% | +2% |
| Net approval rate | -54% | -46%[3] | -48% | -53% | -53% | -56+/-5% | -3% |
[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 HKSAR Government are summarized as follows:
| Date of survey | 19-21/5/20 | 15-18/6/20 | 20-24/7/20 | 17-20/8/20 | 21-24/9/20 | 19-22/10/20 | Latest change |
| Sample size | 593-616 | 620-629 | 611-615 | 587-677 | 589-695 | 624-637 | — |
| Response rate | 55.6% | 54.1% | 62.5% | 60.9% | 61.5% | 62.2% | — |
| Latest findings | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding & error | — |
| Satisfaction rate of SARG performance[4] | 19% | 17% | 19% | 20% | 17% | 17+/-3% | — |
| Dissatisfaction rate of SARG performance[4] | 67% | 71% | 65%[5] | 65% | 63% | 69+/-4% | +6%[5] |
| Net satisfaction rate | -49% | -54% | -46% | -45% | -46% | -52+/-6% | -6% |
| Mean value[4] | 2.0 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.0+/-0.1 | -0.1 |
| Trust in HKSAR Government[4] | 27% | 27% | 25% | 30% | 27% | 26+/-4% | — |
| Distrust in HKSAR Government[4] | 63% | 59% | 61% | 59% | 55% | 61+/-4% | +6%[5] |
| Net trust | -36% | -32% | -35% | -29% | -28% | -35+/-7% | -7% |
| Mean value[4] | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.3+/-0.1 | -0.1 |
[4] Collapsed from a 5-point scale. The mean value is calculated by quantifying all individual responses into 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 marks according to their degree of positive level, where 1 is the lowest and 5 the highest, and then calculate the sample mean.
[5] 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.
People’s recent appraisals of society’s conditions are summarized as follows:
| Date of survey | 19-21/5/20 | 15-18/6/20 | 20-24/7/20 | 17-20/8/20 | 21-24/9/20 | 19-22/10/20 | Latest change |
| Sample size | 1,001 | 1,002 | 1,029 | 1,020 | 1,013 | 1,020 | — |
| Response rate | 55.6% | 54.1% | 62.5% | 60.9% | 61.5% | 62.2% | — |
| Latest findings | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding & error | — |
| Current livelihood condition: Satisfaction rate[6] | 12% | 12% | 15%[7] | 12%[7] | 13% | 14+/-2% | +1% |
| Current livelihood condition: Dissatisfaction rate[6] | 73% | 66%[7] | 66% | 70% | 64%[7] | 67+/-3% | +3% |
| Net satisfaction rate | -61% | -54%[7] | -51% | -57%[7] | -51% | -54+/-5% | -2% |
| Mean value[6] | 1.9[7] | 2.1[7] | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.0+/-0.1 | -0.1 |
| Current economic condition: Satisfaction rate[6] | 9% | 12% | 13% | 10% | 12% | 9+/-2% | -2% |
| Current economic condition: Dissatisfaction rate[6] | 75% | 64%[7] | 64% | 71%[7] | 69% | 70+/-3% | +1% |
| Net satisfaction rate | -66% | -52%[7] | -52% | -61%[7] | -57% | -61+/-4% | -4% |
| Mean value[6] | 1.9[7] | 2.2[7] | 2.1 | 2.0[7] | 2.1 | 2.0+/-0.1 | -0.1 |
| Current political condition: Satisfaction rate[6] | 3%[7] | 3% | 8%[7] | 9% | 9% | 9+/-2% | — |
| Current political condition: Dissatisfaction rate[6] | 88%[7] | 84%[7] | 78%[7] | 77% | 73%[7] | 75+/-3% | +2% |
| Net satisfaction rate | -86%[7] | -81%[7] | -70%[7] | -68% | -65% | -66+/-4% | -2% |
| Mean value[6] | 1.4[7] | 1.5[7] | 1.6[7] | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7+/-0.1 | — |
[6] Collapsed from a 5-point scale. The mean value is calculated by quantifying all individual responses into 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 marks according to their degree of positive level, where 1 is the lowest and 5 the highest, and then calculate the sample mean.
[7] 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.
Our latest survey shows that the popularity rating of CE Carrie Lam now stands at 27.2 marks. Her approval rate is 18%, disapproval rate 74%, giving a net popularity of negative 56 percentage points. All popularity figures have not changed much from half a month ago.
Regarding the HKSAR Government, the latest satisfaction rate is 17%, whereas 69% were dissatisfied, up by 6 percentage points since last time, thus net satisfaction stands at negative 52 percentage points. The mean score is 2.0, meaning close to “quite dissatisfied” in general. Regarding people’s trust in the HKSAR Government, 26% of the respondents expressed trust, 61% expressed distrust, up by 6 percentage points since last time. The net trust value is negative 35 percentage points. The mean score is 2.3, meaning between “quite distrust” and “half-half” in general.
As for people’s satisfaction with the current livelihood, economic and political conditions, the latest satisfaction rates are 14%, 9% and 9% respectively, while the net satisfaction rates are negative 54, negative 61 and negative 66 percentage points respectively. The mean scores of livelihood condition and economic condition are both 2.0, meaning close to “quite dissatisfied” in general; that of political condition is 1.7, meaning between “quite dissatisfied” and “very dissatisfied” in general. The figures above are more or less the same as last month.
Core Social Indicators
Herewith the latest figures of the five core social indicators:
| Date of survey | 14-17/4/20 | 6-9/7/20 | 3-6/8/20 | 31/8-4/9/20 | 19-22/10/20 | Latest change |
| Sample size[8] | 627-654 | 598-664 | 584-619 | 590-618 | 575-632 | — |
| Response rate | 64.5% | 52.4% | 64.4% | 58.4% | 62.2% | — |
| Latest findings | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding & error | — |
| Degree of freedom | 5.58[9] | 4.84[9] | 4.74 | 4.13[9] | 4.60+/-0.25 | +0.48[9] |
| Degree of prosperity | 5.45[9] | 5.35 | 4.19[9] | 4.15 | 4.30+/-0.20 | +0.15 |
| Degree of stability | 4.44[9] | 4.12[9] | 3.76[9] | 3.63 | 4.15+/-0.21 | +0.51[9] |
| Compliance with the rule of law | 4.45 | 4.14 | 3.80 | 3.41[9] | 3.82+/-0.24 | +0.40[9] |
| Degree of democracy | 4.61 | 4.37 | 3.70[9] | 3.49 | 3.61+/-0.27 | +0.12 |
[8] Before March 2020, weighted count was used to report subsample size. Starting from March 2020, raw count was used instead.
[9] 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.
On a scale of 0 to 10, people’s ratings on all five core social indicators are lower than 5 marks. Ranked from the highest to the lowest are “freedom”, “prosperity”, “stability”, “rule of law” and “democracy”. Their scores are 4.60, 4.30, 4.15, 3.82 and 3.61 respectively. Compared with a month ago, ratings of “freedom”, “stability” and “rule of law” have increased significantly.
Public Sentiment Index
The Public Sentiment Index (PSI) compiled by POP aims at quantifying Hong Kong people’s sentiments, in order to explain and predict the likelihood of collective behaviour. PSI comprises 2 components: one being Government Appraisal (GA) Score and the other being Society Appraisal (SA) Score. GA refers to people’s appraisal of society’s governance while SA refers to people’s appraisal of the social environment. Both GA and SA scores are compiled from a respective of 4 and 6 opinion survey figures. All PSI, GA and SA scores range between 0 to 200, with 100 meaning normal.
The chart of PSI, GA and SA are shown below:
 | |||
| Latest figure | Public Sentiment Index (PSI): 56.2 (-4.9) | Government Appraisal (GA): 61.2 (-4.6) | Society Appraisal (SA): 53.2 (-4.2) |
Recent values of PSI, GA, SA and 10 fundamental figures are tabulated as follows:
| Cut-off date | 6/8/20 | 20/8/20 | 4/9/20 | 24/9/20 | 8/10/20 | 22/10/20 | Latest change |
| Public Sentiment Index (PSI) | 58.5 | 57.6 | 57.9 | 60.8 | 61.1 | 56.2 | -4.9 |
| Government Appraisal (GA) | 61.6 | 64.8 | 65.2 | 65.2 | 65.8 | 61.2 | -4.6 |
| Rating of CE | 26.9 | 26.8 | 28.1 | 27.5 | 28.6 | 27.2 | -1.3 |
| Net approval rate of CE | -54% | -46% | -48% | -53% | -53% | -56% | -3% |
| Mean value of people’s satisfaction with SARG | 2.0[10] | 2.1 | 2.1[10] | 2.1 | 2.1[10] | 2.0 | -0.1 |
| Mean value of people’s trust in SARG | 2.2[10] | 2.4 | 2.4[10] | 2.4 | 2.4[10] | 2.3 | -0.1 |
| Society Appraisal (SA) | 56.9[10] | 52.2 | 52.2[10] | 57.4 | 57.4[10] | 53.2 | -4.2 |
| People’s satisfaction with political condition | 1.6[10] | 1.7 | 1.7[10] | 1.7 | 1.7[10] | 1.7 | — |
| Weighting index of political condition | 0.33[10] | 0.33[10] | 0.33[10] | 0.33[10] | 0.33[10] | 0.33[10] | — |
| People’s satisfaction with economic condition | 2.1[10] | 2.0 | 2.0[10] | 2.1 | 2.1[10] | 2.0 | -0.1 |
| Weighting index of economic condition | 0.33[10] | 0.33[10] | 0.33[10] | 0.33[10] | 0.33[10] | 0.33[10] | — |
| People’s satisfaction with livelihood condition | 2.1[10] | 2.0 | 2.0[10] | 2.1 | 2.1[10] | 2.0 | -0.1 |
| Weighting index of livelihood condition | 0.35[10] | 0.35[10] | 0.35[10] | 0.35[10] | 0.35[10] | 0.35[10] | — |
[10] POP will adopt the latest published figures when there are no respective updates.
As for the meaning of the score values, please refer to the following:
| Score value | Percentile | Score value | Percentile |
| 140-200 | Highest 1% | 0-60 | Lowest 1% |
| 125 | Highest 5% | 75 | Lowest 5% |
| 120 | Highest 10% | 80 | Lowest 10% |
| 110 | Highest 25% | 90 | Lowest 25% |
| 100 being normal level, meaning half above half below | |||
The latest PSI stands at 56.2, down by 4.9 points from early October. It can be considered as among the worst 1% across the past 20 years or so. Among the two component scores of PSI, the Government Appraisal (GA) Score that reflects people’s appraisal of society’s governance decreases by 4.6 points to 61.2, whereas the Society Appraisal (SA) Score that reflects people’s appraisal of the social environment decreases by 4.2 points to 53.2. They can both be considered as among the worst 1% across the past 20 years or so.
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 31 August to 4 September, 2020 while this survey was conducted from 19 to 22 October, 2020. 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.
| 21/10/20 | Cathay Pacific announces massive lay-offs and closes Cathay Dragon. |
| 20/10/20 | The government relaxes anti-epidemic measures. |
| 15/10/20 | Hong Kong and Singapore reach an in-principle agreement to establish a bilateral Air Travel Bubble. |
| 14/10/20 | Xi Jinping delivers a speech in Shenzhen. |
| 12/10/20 | Carrie Lam postpones Policy Address. |
| 10/10/20 | Police arrests 9 people on suspicion of helping the 12 Hong Kong people now being detained in Shenzhen flee Hong Kong. |
| 6/10/20 | The Education Bureau deregisters a primary school teacher for professional misconduct. |
| 1/10/20 | Police arrests at least 86 protesters in various districts including Causeway Bay. |
| 30/9/20 | Luo Huining, Tung Chee-hwa and principal officials of Hong Kong celebrates the 71st anniversary of the founding of the PRC. |
| 29/9/20 | Democrats announce survey results on whether Legislative Councillors should stay or go. |
| 22/9/20 | Police changes the definition of “media representatives” under the Police General Orders. |
| 21/9/20 | Stock price of HSBC Holdings hits 25-year low. |
| 14/9/20 | The Universal Community Testing Programme ends with 1.78 million people participated and 32 new cases found. |
| 12/9/20 | Twelve Hong Kong youngsters have been detained in Shenzhen for over two weeks. Their family members hold a press conference. |
| 11/9/20 | The jury in the Coroner’s Court returns an open verdict in the death of Chan Yin-lam. |
| 10/9/20 | Police arrests 15 people on suspicion of defrauding and money laundering by trading Next Digital shares. |
Data Analysis
Our survey shows that the popularity rating of CE Carrie Lam now stands at 27.2 marks. Her net popularity is negative 56 percentage points. These figures have not changed much from half a month ago. The latest net satisfaction of the HKSAR Government stands at negative 52 percentage points while the net trust value is negative 35 percentage points. People’s net satisfaction rates with the current livelihood, economic and political conditions are negative 54, negative 61 and negative 66 percentage points respectively. All these figures stay more or less the same as last month.
On a scale of 0 to 10, people’s ratings on all five core social indicators are lower than 5 marks. Ranked from the highest to the lowest are “freedom”, “prosperity”, “stability”, “rule of law” and “democracy”. Their scores are 4.60, 4.30, 4.15, 3.82 and 3.61 respectively. Compared with a month ago, ratings of all five indicators have increased while those of “freedom”, “stability” and “rule of law” have increased significantly.
As for the PSI, the latest figure is 56.2, down by 4.9 points from early October.