Sharp drop in support for C.Y. Leung, poll finds
Chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying's public support has suffered a sharp drop amid his recent skirmishes with lawmakers, a University of Hong Kong poll has found.
Leung's support slid to 46 per cent, down from 56 per cent early this month, according to the poll of 1,001 people conducted May 18-24. Those who opposed him as chief executive increased to 41 per cent from 34 per cent.
Pollster Dr Robert Chung Ting-yiu said the findings were probably affected by Leung's recent exchanges with lawmakers, including his suggestion that they are deliberately trying to block his government restructuring plans.
The poll also found Leung's popularity, on a 100-mark scale, had dipped 2.2 marks to 54.3.
Yesterday's findings contrasted with a Chinese University survey released the previous day, which found Leung's popularity rising slightly to 46.8 per cent, while opposition to his leadership was 16 per cent. The survey of 836 people has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.39 per cent.
In the HKU poll, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's confidence ratings worsened slightly to 18 per cent from 20 per cent. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 to 4 per cent.
Meanwhile, Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, the head of the Chief Executive-elect's Office, responded sharply when Democratic Party lawmaker Kam Nai-wai suggested the planned revamp might not get legislators' approval until early July, just before the legislative term concludes on July 18.
Law accused him of mischief, saying: 'I hope lawmakers will not raise [a postponement until July] again. If you do, it will give the public an impression that your move is merely mischievous.' Kam retorted, 'It takes time for the legislature to scrutinise [the proposal] ... [Our move] is absolutely not mischievous.'
Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, a National People's Congress Standing Committee member, said last night it was lawmakers' responsibility to query the proposed revamp. A spokeswoman for Leung said he was confident he could win public support.
46%
Support for C.Y.Leung, down from 56 per cent earlier in May
- It follows Leung's row with lawmakers over his restructuring plan
