Aug 24, 2021
Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute Press Conference – Press Materials
Detailed Findings
Speakers:
Kim-Wah Chung – Deputy CEO, HKPORI
Peter Cheung – Senior Social Worker
Edward Tai – Manager (Data Science), HKPORI
KC Poon – Independent Commentator (Online Commentator)
Special Announcement
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.
Abstract
POP successfully interviewed 1,002 Hong Kong residents by a random telephone survey conducted by real interviewers in early August. Our survey shows that, on a scale of 0 to 10, people’s ratings on the five core social indicators ranked from the highest to the lowest are “prosperity”, “freedom”, “rule of law”, “stability” and “democracy”. Their scores are 5.52, 5.11, 5.06, 4.99 and 4.02 respectively. Compared with a month ago, the “prosperity”, “freedom” and “rule of law” indicators have increased significantly. As for the seven non-core social indicators, “public order”, “civilization” and “social welfare sufficiency” got relatively higher ratings, while those of “efficiency”, “corruption-free practices”, “equality” and “fairness” are relatively lower. The rating of “equality” has again registered an all-time low since record began in 1997. As for the ten freedom sub-indicators, freedom of “artistic and literary creation”, “speech”, “freedom to strike”, “press”, “association”, “publication” and “procession and demonstration” all score lower than 5 marks. Freedom of “publication” has dropped significantly when compared to the last survey, while freedoms of “artistic and literary creation”, “press”, “association”, and “publication” have all registered historical lows since records began in 1997. In the area of rule of law sub-indicators, “impartiality of the courts” has significantly increased, but still scores below 5 marks together with the “fairness of the judicial system”. The latest support rating of Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Geoffrey Ma stands at 46.1. The effective response rate of the survey is 49.4%. The maximum sampling error of ratings is +/-2.9 at 95% confidence level.
Contact Information
| Date of survey | : | 9-12/8/2021 |
| Survey method | : | Random telephone survey conducted by real interviewers |
| Target population | : | Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above |
| Sample size[1] | : | 1,002 (including 503 landline and 499 mobile samples) |
| Effective response rate | : | 49.4% |
| Sampling error[2] | : | Sampling error of ratings not more than +/-2.9 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 2020”, while the educational attainment (highest level attended) distribution and economic activity status distribution came from “Women and Men in Hong Kong – Key Statistics (2020 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.
Latest Figures
Herewith the latest figures of the five core social indicators:
| Date of survey | 7-9/4/21 | 3-7/5/2021 | 7-10/6/21 | 30/6-8/7/21 | 9-12/8/21 | Latest change |
| Sample size | 597-605 | 605-610 | 602-607 | 595-606 | 635-666 | — |
| Response rate | 50.1% | 55.5% | 55.1% | 46.4% | 49.4% | — |
| Latest findings | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding & error | — |
| Degree of prosperity | 4.73[3] | 4.41[3] | 4.83[3] | 4.94 | 5.52+/-0.19 | +0.58[3] |
| Degree of freedom | 4.77 | 4.56 | 4.77 | 4.56 | 5.11+/-0.26 | +0.55[3] |
| Compliance with the rule of law | 4.40[3] | 4.01[3] | 4.39[3] | 4.48 | 5.06+/-0.25 | +0.57[3] |
| Degree of stability | 4.76[3] | 4.42[3] | 4.80[3] | 4.76 | 4.99+/-0.23 | +0.23 |
| Degree of democracy | 3.68 | 3.56 | 3.82 | 4.04 | 4.02+/-0.26 | -0.03 |
[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.
Herewith the latest figures of the seven non-core social indicators:
| Date of survey | 16-19/9/19 | 14-17/4/20 | 6-9/7/20 | 2-5/2/21 | 9-12/8/21 | Latest change |
| Sample size[4] | 587-716 | 627-663 | 616-665 | 650-656 | 633-642 | — |
| Response rate | 69.5% | 64.5% | 52.4% | 62.9% | 49.4% | — |
| Latest findings | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding & error | — |
| Degree of public order | 4.55[5] | 5.13[5] | 5.14 | 5.70[5] | 5.99+/-0.21 | +0.29 |
| Degree of civilization | 5.68[5] | 6.00[5] | 5.42[5] | 5.58 | 5.57+/-0.22 | -0.01 |
| Degree of social welfare sufficiency | 5.55 | 5.56 | 5.63 | 5.43 | 5.54+/-0.20 | +0.11 |
| Degree of efficiency | 5.88[5] | 5.25[5] | 5.34 | 5.08 | 5.14+/-0.21 | +0.05 |
| Degree of corruption-free practices | 5.12[5] | 4.98 | 4.98 | 5.00 | 5.04+/-0.24 | +0.04 |
| Degree of equality | 4.71[5] | 4.87 | 4.62 | 4.50 | 4.39+/-0.22 | -0.11 |
| Degree of fairness | 4.20[5] | 4.79[5] | 4.15[5] | 4.23 | 4.32+/-0.23 | +0.09 |
[4] Before March 2020, weighted count was used to report subsample size. Starting from March 2020, raw count was used instead.
[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.
Herewith the latest figures of the ten freedom sub-indicators:
| Date of survey | 16-19/9/19 | 14-17/4/20 | 6-9/7/20 | 2-5/2/21 | 9-12/8/21 | Latest change |
| Sample size[6] | 609-700 | 579-643 | 583-664 | 605-656 | 595-639 | — |
| Response rate | 69.5% | 64.5% | 52.4% | 62.9% | 49.4% | — |
| Latest findings | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding & error | — |
| Degree of freedom (repeated listing) | 6.00[7] | 5.58[7] | 4.84[7] | 5.02 | 5.11+/-0.26 | +0.09 |
| Freedom of religious belief | 7.79[7] | 7.24[7] | 6.71[7] | 6.76 | 6.83+/-0.22 | +0.07 |
| Freedom to enter or leave Hong Kong | 7.14[7] | 7.02 | 6.50[7] | 6.08[7] | 6.37+/-0.26 | +0.29 |
| Freedom to engage in academic research | 6.46[7] | 5.59[7] | 4.98[7] | 4.88 | 5.12+/-0.28 | +0.24 |
| Freedom to engage in artistic and literary creation | 6.54[7] | 5.63[7] | 4.96[7] | 5.21 | 4.95+/-0.26 | -0.26 |
| Freedom of speech | 5.85[7] | 5.24[7] | 4.39[7] | 4.63 | 4.51+/-0.29 | -0.13 |
| Freedom to strike | 5.04[7] | 4.67[7] | 4.08[7] | 4.34 | 4.41+/-0.28 | +0.08 |
| Freedom of press | 5.72 | 4.94[7] | 4.27[7] | 4.38 | 4.13+/-0.29 | -0.25 |
| Freedom of association | 5.13 | 4.88 | 4.35[7] | 4.17 | 4.07+/-0.29 | -0.11 |
| Freedom of publication | 5.81 | 5.10[7] | 4.40[7] | 4.57 | 3.97+/-0.28 | -0.59[7] |
| Freedom of procession and demonstration | 4.68[7] | 4.13[7] | 3.31[7] | 3.31 | 3.45+/-0.29 | +0.14 |
[6] Before March 2020, weighted count was used to report subsample size. Starting from March 2020, raw count was used instead.
[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.
Herewith the latest figures of the two rule of law sub-indicators and the rating of the Chief Justice:
| Date of survey | 16-19/9/19 | 14-17/4/20 | 6-9/7/20 | 2-5/2/21 | 9-12/8/21 | Latest change |
| Sample size[8] | 642-690 | 641-658 | 584-643 | 538-657 | 568-670 | — |
| Response rate | 69.5% | 64.5% | 52.4% | 62.9% | 49.4% | — |
| Latest findings | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding | Finding & error | — |
| Compliance with the rule of law (repeated listing) | 4.41[10] | 4.45 | 4.14 | 4.50[10] | 5.06+/-0.25 | +0.56[10] |
| Impartiality of the courts | 5.52[10] | 4.60[10] | 4.24[10] | 4.42 | 4.98+/-0.23 | +0.56[10] |
| Fairness of the judicial system | 4.37[10] | 4.41 | 4.07[10] | 4.27 | 4.40+/-0.24 | +0.13 |
| Support rating of Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal[9] | 57.1[10] | 57.3 | 57.1 | 42.5[10] | 46.1+/-2.9 | +3.5 |
[8] Before March 2020, weighted count was used to report subsample size. Starting from March 2020, raw count was used instead.
[9] The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal before January 2021 was Geoffrey Ma, after that it was Andrew Cheung.
[10] 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 the five core social indicators ranked from the highest to the lowest are “prosperity”, “freedom”, “rule of law”, “stability” and “democracy”. Their scores are 5.52, 5.11, 5.06, 4.99 and 4.02 respectively. Compared with a month ago, the “prosperity”, “freedom” and “rule of law” indicators have increased significantly.
As for the non-core indicators, “public order”, “civilization” and “social welfare sufficiency” got relatively higher ratings, with 5.99, 5.57 and 5.54 marks respectively. Ratings of “efficiency”, “corruption-free practices”, “equality” and “fairness” stand at 5.14, 5.04, 4.39 and 4.32 respectively. The figures above have not changed much since 6 months ago, but rating of “equality” has again registered an all-time low since record began in 1997.
As for the freedom sub-indicators, the top 3 go to freedoms of “religious belief”, “entering or leaving Hong Kong” and “academic research”, with 6.83, 6.37 and 5.12 marks respectively, followed by freedom of “artistic and literary creation”, “speech”, “freedom to strike”, “press”, “association”, and “publication”, with 4.95, 4.51, 4.41, 4.13, 4.07 and 3.97 marks respectively, while freedom of “procession and demonstration” ranks the last, scoring 3.45 marks only. Compared with the previous survey, freedom of “publication” has dropped significantly, while freedoms of “artistic and literary creation”, “press”, “association”, and “publication” have all registered historical lows since records began in 1997.
As for the two rule of law sub-indicators, “impartiality of the courts” has significantly increased to 4.98 marks, while “fairness of the judicial system” got 4.40 marks. As for Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, his support rating is 46.1 on a scale of 0 to 100.
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 2 to 5 February, 2021 while this survey was conducted from 9 to 12 August, 2021. 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.
| 10/8/21 | The Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union announces it will be dissolved. |
| 8/8/21 | Sarah Lee wins bronze in the women’s cycling sprint in the Olympics, meaning one gold, two silver and three bronze medals for Hong Kong. |
| 6/8/21 | The nomination period for the Election Committee Subsector Elections begins. |
| 4/8/21 | The government tightens requirements for the Return2hk scheme to prevent spread of the Delta variant from Macau. |
| 2/8/21 | The government requires four targeted groups to undergo regular testing at their own expense if they do not get vaccinated. |
| 1/8/21 | The government delivers the first batch of electronic consumption vouchers worth $2,000. |
| 31/7/21 | The Education Bureau terminates all working relations with Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union. |
| 30/7/21 | Tong Ying-kit is jailed for 9 years for inciting secession and terrorism. |
| 16/7/21 | Xia Baolong spells out five qualities people who govern Hong Kong must possess. |
| 11/7/21 | Hong Kong confirms a case of coronavirus disease, leading to compulsory testing for tens of thousands of airport staff. |
| 8/7/21 | Two towers of The Pavilia Farm III will be demolished and rebuilt for failing to meet concrete strength requirement. |
| 6/7/21 | Police arrests nine people who allegedly plotted terrorist attacks. |
| 5/7/21 | Mainland and Hong Kong officials attend a legal forum on national security law. |
| 4/7/21 | Police arrests two people who allegedly incited violence online. |
| 3/7/21 | The government calls the July 1 stabbing a “lone wolf terrorist attack”. |
| 2/7/21 | A man kills himself after stabbing a police officer in Causeway Bay. |
| 1/7/21 | Xi Jinping delivers a speech at Chinese Communist Party’s 100th anniversary ceremony. |
| 25/6/21 | John Lee, Chris Tang and Raymond Siu are appointed as Chief Secretary, Secretary for Security and Commissioner of Police respectively. |
| 23/6/21 | Apple Daily prints one million copies of its final issue. |
| 22/6/21 | Apple Daily stops updating several pages. |
| 19/6/21 | Two Next Digital senior executives are denied bail and remanded in custody. |
| 17/6/21 | Police arrests senior executives of Apple Daily and freezes assets of the company under the national security law. |
| 12/6/21 | Luo Huining says people who shout “end one-party rule” are enemies of Hong Kong. |
| 11/6/21 | The government amends the “Film Censorship Ordinance” to ban exhibition of films that endanger national security. |
| 10/6/21 | NPCSC passes “Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law”. |
| 4/6/21 | Police locks down Victoria Park to prevent June 4 vigil. |
| 31/5/21 | The government plans to restrict unvaccinated persons from entering various premises. |
| 30/5/21 | The government and the business sector launch initiatives to encourage vaccination. |
| 28/5/21 | 10 famous democrats are convicted and jailed for 10.1 assembly. |
| 27/5/21 | The Legislative Council passes amendments to Hong Kong’s electoral system. |
| 21/5/21 | Some universities and corporations launch initiatives to encourage vaccination. |
| 14/5/21 | The government freezes Jimmy Lai’s personal assets under the national security law. |
| 11/5/21 | The government purchases the broadcasting rights of the Tokyo Olympics for five television stations. |
| 4/5/21 | Residents of Block R of Allway Gardens are put into quarantine centre for 21 days. |
| 2/5/21 | The government plans to require foreign domestic helpers to be vaccinated to come to Hong Kong or renew contracts. |
| 30/4/21 | The government imposes mandatory testing for all foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong. |
| 27/4/21 | The government relaxes some anti-epidemic measures with “vaccine bubble” as the basis. |
| 23/4/21 | Former member of Hong Kong National Front is jailed for 12 years for possessing explosives. |
| 16/4/21 | 9 famous democrats are convicted and jailed for 8.18 assembly. |
| 15/4/21 | The government holds “National Security Education Day”. |
| 13/4/21 | The government will make law to ban public call to not vote or cast blank or spoilt votes. |
| 30/3/21 | NPCSC passes amendments to the Basic Law to amend Hong Kong’s electoral system. |
| 17/3/21 | The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and the Liaison Office hold seminars on amending Hong Kong’s electoral system. |
| 28/2/21 | 47 democrats are charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion”. |
| 24/2/21 | Financial Secretary Paul Chan delivers the Budget. |
| 23/2/21 | The government proposes amendments to laws to regulate oath-taking by public officers, compiling a negative list of behaviours, violators of which will be disqualified. |
| 22/2/21 | Xia Baolong says the Central Government will change the electoral system in Hong Kong to make sure it will be “patriots ruling Hong Kong”. |
| 19/2/21 | The government releases the Governance and Management of RTHK Review Report, and announces that Li Pak-chuen will replace Leung Ka-wing as the Director of Broadcasting. |
| 16/2/21 | The government lifts the dine-in ban during nighttime, but customers will need to use the “LeaveHomeSafe” app or register. |
| 9/2/21 | The Court of Final Appeal sets aside the High Court’s decision to grant bail to Jimmy Lai. |
Data Analysis
The latest survey shows that, on a scale of 0 to 10, people’s ratings on the five core social indicators ranked from the highest to the lowest are “prosperity”, “freedom”, “rule of law”, “stability” and “democracy”. Their scores are 5.52, 5.11, 5.06, 4.99 and 4.02 respectively. Compared with a month ago, the “prosperity”, “freedom” and “rule of law” indicators have increased significantly.
As for the seven non-core social indicators, “public order”, “civilization” and “social welfare sufficiency” got relatively higher ratings, while those of “efficiency”, “corruption-free practices”, “equality” and “fairness” are relatively lower. The rating of “equality” has again registered an all-time low since record began in 1997.
As for the ten freedom sub-indicators, freedom of “artistic and literary creation”, “speech”, “freedom to strike”, “press”, “association”, “publication” and “procession and demonstration” all score lower than 5 marks. Freedom of “publication” has dropped significantly when compared to the last survey, while freedoms of “artistic and literary creation”, “press”, “association”, and “publication” have all registered historical lows since records began in 1997.
In the area of rule of law sub-indicators, “impartiality of the courts” has significantly increased, but still scores below 5 marks together with the “fairness of the judicial system”. The latest support rating of Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Geoffrey Ma stands at 46.1.