Pollster dismisses 'political' criticism
HKU's poll chief Robert Chung says their methods are fair and transparent, and questions motivation behind recent attacks
Regular polls gauging the popularity of the chief executive would be the last to be axed if the budget for the University of Hong Kong's public opinion programme (POP) were cut, its director has vowed.
Dr Robert Chung Ting-yiu has come under attack in recent weeks from government supporters and pro-Beijing media unhappy with the programme.
"If the POP is to face resource constraints and have to cut projects, the poll on the chief executive will be the last one to be axed," Chung told an HKU forum on academic freedom.
"A society's chief must be subject to scrutiny by scientific social research."
Earlier this month, Peter Lee Ka-kit, son of property tycoon Lee Shau-kee, complained about Chung's polls during a session in Beijing attended by National People's Congress chairman Zhang Dejiang .
Lee, a Standing Committee member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, suggested pro-establishment organisations finance and commission their own surveys.
Central Policy Unit chief Shiu Sin-por and Executive Council member Cheung Chi-kong joined the chorus questioning Chung's polling methodology.