Less than a third of Hongkongers think the next chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, can bridge the divide in the pro-establishment camp after a bitterly fought election, a poll shows.
The results were released yesterday as Leung met bankers and representatives of five major chambers of commerce - the sector that mainly supported his rival Henry Tang Ying-yen during the campaign.
Asked if the meetings helped mend fences, Leung said: 'There is no bad blood between me and those in the business sector who did not support me [in the election].'
However, a post-election survey of 812 people found that just 28.1 per cent of the respondents were confident that Leung could reunite the pro-establishment camp.
The poll by Chinese University's Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies from March 27 to 29, found 42.1 per cent of respondents had no confidence in Leung's ability to improve ties with pan-democrats.
About 40.6 per cent supported Leung as the next chief executive, while 27.3 per cent opposed him.
Invited to the 90-minute meeting with Leung were the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' & Exporters' Association.
