Low poll blow for Lau Wong-fat
Headline-hitting executive councillor Lau Wong-fat's public recognition factor has soared to an all-time high, but the scandal-tainted New Territories power broker has seen his popularity slump to a historic low, according to a new poll.
The results of the latest quarterly survey of public opinion on Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's cabinet, by the University of Hong Kong's public opinion programme, come as Heung Yee Kuk chairman Lau reels from a scandal over his declaration of property interests, which broke in September.
The poll found Lau the second best known Exco member at 19 per cent, up 17 per cent on the last survey. Only Exco convener Leung Chun-ying was deemed more recognisable, with 24 per cent of people able to name him.
A total of 1,013 people were interviewed for the survey, which also found that Lau - who was revealed to have omitted 390 plots of land from his Exco declaration - has become the most unpopular cabinet member.
Lau's rating fell from an April standing of 42.4 to a new low of 33.1 on a scale of 1 to 100. He was excluded in the popularity count in July due to a low score outside the survey's limit.
The poll conducted last week had a sampling error of plus or minus 1.6 per cent.
Lau was forced to change his asset ownership records in Exco three times after a series of media reports found him failing to report property transactions, which brought a profit of HK$800,000; ownership of 13 companies and 70 lots of farmland.
His latest portfolio updated in early October included 390 plots of land, adding up to a 724 units of land and property.
Ratings for Lau's fellow Exco members were on the rise. Ronald Arculli remained the most popular member throughout the year, rising slightly by 0.7 to 49.5. Support for Leung Chun-ying rose 1.9 points to 47.5, making him the second most popular. Third-ranking Cheng Yiu-tong went up two places, with his rating rising 2.1 points to 43.9.
For the record
The units of property and land declared by Lau Wong-fat in his latest declaration of interest: 724
