(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in Hong Kong continue to endorse Donald Tsang, according to a poll by the Hong Kong University Public Opinion Programme. The approval rating for the territory’s chief executive stands at 54.1 points, practically unchanged since early August.

In June 2005, Tsang was elected unopposed by an 800-member committee to serve as Hong Kong’s chief executive for two years. Tsang had substituted Tung Chee-hwa on an interim basis. In March 2007, Tsang won a full four-year term as chief executive, defeating Alan Leong with 649 votes to 123.

China took control of Hong Kong from Britain in July 1997. As part of the "one country, two systems" arrangement proposed by Deng Xiaoping, China must allow Hong Kong to be sovereign in all matters—except national security and foreign affairs—until 2047.

Hong Kong’s Basic Law sets no specific timetable for a democratically elected government. In September 2004, Hong Kong’s 3.2 million registered voters chose 30 members to the 60-seat Legislative Council. The representatives monitor the performance of the government, and play a role in enacting laws, as well as examining and approving budgets. The next election is scheduled for Sept. 7.

In December 2007, the Chinese government decided that the people of Hong Kong will not be able to directly elect the territory’s chief executive until 2017, and the entire Legislative Council until 2020. Democratic movements in Hong Kong—who had proposed to have direct elections by 2012—protested against Beijing’s ruling.

On Aug. 28, Hong Kong and China signed deals on nuclear energy and gas. Tsang made the announcement, saying, "The sustained supply of clean energy from the mainland will greatly reduce the need for Hong Kong to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal within its territory." Tsang added that the deals will help Hong Kong curb both pollution and its reliance on coal-based energy.

Polling Data

Please use a scale of 0-100 to rate your extent of support to the chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, with zero indicating absolutely not supportive, 100 indicating absolutely supportive and 50 indicating half-half. How would you rate the chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen?

Source: Hong Kong University Public Opinion Programme
Methodology: Interviews with 1,000 Hong Kong residents, conducted from Aug. 18 to Aug. 20, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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