Support for Leung Chun-ying and ministers rebounds
Housing policy seen as improving ratings of C. Y. and several of his senior ministers
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's popularity has rebounded to over 50 points for the first time in three months, a University of Hong Kong opinion poll shows. Ratings of key ministers also rose.
Dr Robert Chung Ting-yiu, director of the university's public opinion programme, which carried out the poll, said: "The new housing policies seem to have had a positive impact on the popularity of the officials involved."
Leung's popularity rose to 53 points last month - up 3.9 points and nearly back to the 53.8 he recorded in mid-July soon after taking office. And asked if they would give Leung a vote of confidence, 42 per cent of respondents said "yes" - up 5 points from the previous poll. But 43 per cent said "no".
The university interviewed 1,000 people this month.
The popularity of five other senior officials also increased, following the administration's announcement of a surprise extra property tax.
Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah had a net approval rating of 47 percentage points, up seven percentage points, as did Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Chan Ka-keung, also a rise of seven points; Secretary for Transport and Housing Anthony Cheung Bing-leung had a net approval rating of 37 per cent, up 3 percentage points. Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's net approval rating was 50 percentage points, up four points.