Academic says university head behind H.K. chief poll pressure

0 Comments | Asian Political News, July 17, 2000

HONG KONG, July 14 Kyodo

A political storm threatening the integrity of Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa took another turn Friday as a leading pollster said a university head was acting as a middleman for Tung in trying to stop surveys on his popularity and his government's credibility.

The disclosure came a week after Tung was alleged to have interfered with academic freedom by trying to block pollster Robert Chung from continuing his surveys.

An emotional Chung told a news conference that Cheng Yiu-chung, vice chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, was the "third party" who conveyed Tung's disapproval of the surveys to him through Pro-Vice Chancellor Wong Siu-lun on two occasions last year.

Chung is director of a public opinion program at the university.

Wong and the university immediately denied Chung's allegations. Cheng was unavailable for comment.

Chung claimed in a newspaper column a week ago that Tung had sent a clear message to him "via a special channel" that polls were not welcome. He did not reveal what that channel was.

Tung, whose public approval rating has declined, publicly denied that he had asked or authorized anyone to ask Chung or any institution to stop conducting surveys.

A number of Tung's aides, government officials and pro-Beijing newspapers repeatedly demanded the pollster clarify the matter and produce proof to back his accusations.

Some recent opinion polls by various groups also found public dissatisfaction with Tung and his administration has increased.

In a statement Friday, the University of Hong Kong reiterated its declared mission of upholding academic freedom.

The university "has never in the past sought to interfere with or stop Chung's work in the public opinion program and it has no intention of so doing," the statement said.

The university said it will set up an independent commission to look into Chung's case.