Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has been warned against complacency after a think-tank study found the middle class are still dissatisfied with his governance.
The study, released yesterday by SynergyNet, includes analysis of key controversies as well as separate public surveys on issues like accountability, fairness and transparency.
One survey question asked respondents to rate ministers' willingness to shoulder responsibility for policy blunders on a scale of 100. The 505 respondents in a general survey gave an average rating of 51, but the corresponding figure of the survey covering 225 middle-class professionals was only 31.
In the general survey, the government's ability to listen to critical opinions was rated at 55, while the middle class put it at 30.
The middle class were particularly critical about the government's responsiveness, with scores on five indicators ranging between 36 and 47. The public gave a generous range from 52 to 56.
The surveys also asked about the quality of the government's responsiveness, in terms of consulting the public and identifying and meeting community needs. Again, middle-class professionals were more critical, responding with ratings between 36 and 47, while the public's were between 52 and 56.
