A pro-Beijing newspaper yesterday condemned the Chinese University's Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies latest polls on the popularity ratings of Tung Chee-hwa and his new team as 'irresponsible'.
In its editorial, the Ta Kung Pao said the polling work conducted by the institute was disappointing and cast serious doubts on the polling methodology and conclusions.
The institute released a survey on Wednesday, which showed the approval rating of Mr Tung had fallen to a post-handover low of 48.9 on a scale of 100 this month. The poll also found that public dissatisfaction with the government rose sharply in the first month after the new ministerial team was put in place.
'The accountability system has only been introduced for 20 odd days . . . How can [the institute] treat [the new political appointees] like pop-singers and give them scores by merely relying on their names, looks, impressions or even a few remarks?,' Ta Kung Pao said.
It said it was irresponsible for the institute to conclude that the popularity ratings of the chief executive, the SAR government and some principal officials had all fallen.
Timothy Wong Ka-ying, who was in charge of the poll, said: 'It's not the first time I have conducted such a poll. This was the 60th time. Why hasn't anyone cast doubts on the previous 59 polls? Those with any grasp of professional polling will think such criticisms are meaningless.'