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Overall speaking, are you satisfied with the government's strategy in monetary arrangement?

Date of survey Instant survey / Follow-up survey   Very satisfied   Quite satisfied   Half-half   Not quite satisfied   Very dissatisfied   DK/HS   Total  
  12-13/3/2003 Follow-up survey   0.4%   8.4%   15.7%   37.6%   22.1%   15.9%   100.0%  
  5/3/2003 Instant survey   0.7%   11.2%   17.5%   29.8%   15.6%   25.3%   100.0%  
  18-20/3/2002 Follow-up survey   1.0%   26.8%   29.2%   19.5%   3.3%   20.2%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 Instant survey   0.7%   25.6%   21.2%   17.2%   4.2%   31.0%   100.0%  
  30-31/3/2001 Follow-up survey   1.6%   34.4%   31.2%   18.0%   4.4%   10.4%   100.0%  
  7-8/3/2001 Instant survey   1.7%   43.7%   22.8%   11.6%   2.2%   17.9%   100.0%  
  20/3/2000 Follow-up survey   1.6%   45.1%   24.4%   8.9%   2.2%   15.8%   100.0%  
  8/3/2000 Instant survey   5.3%   54.7%   16.4%   7.4%   1.2%   15.0%   100.0%  
  24/2/1998 Follow-up survey   1.6%   40.8%   24.2%   14.1%   1.4%   17.9%   100.0%  
  18/2/1998 Instant survey   3.4%   38.4%   20.6%   11.6%   1.1%   24.9%   100.0%  

Collapsed data

 Date of survey Instant survey / Follow-up survey   Satisfied   Half-half   Dissatisfied   DK/HS   Total  
  12-13/3/2003 Follow-up surveyy   8.7%   15.7%   59.7%   15.9%   100.0%  
  5/3/2003 Instant survey   11.9%   17.5%   45.3%   25.3%   100.0%  
  18-20/3/2002 Follow-up surveyy   27.7%   29.2%   22.8%   20.2%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 Instant survey   26.4%   21.2%   21.4%   31.0%   100.0%  
  30-31/3/2001 Follow-up surveyy   36.0%   31.2%   22.4%   10.4%   100.0%  
  7-8/3/2001 Instant survey   45.4%   22.8%   13.9%   17.9%   100.0%  
  20/3/2000 Follow-up survey   46.7%   26.4%   11.0%   15.8%   100.0%  
  8/3/2000 Instant survey   59.9%   16.4%   8.7%   15.0%   100.0%  
  24/2/1998 Follow-up survey   42.4%   24.2%   15.5%   17.9%   100.0%  
  18/2/1998 Instant survey   41.8%   20.6%   12.7%   24.9%   100.0%  


In general, are you satisfied with the Budget announced by the Financial Secretary?

 Date of survey Instant survey / Follow-up survey   Sub-sample base   Very satisfied   Quite satisfied   Half-half   Not quite satisfied   Very dissatisfied   DK/HS   Total  
  12-13/3/2003 Follow-up survey   920*   1.1%   11.9%   16.2%   40.3%   24.8%   5.6%   100.0%  
  5/3/2003 Instant survey   495*   1.4%   18.5%   23.2%   35.1%   14.5%   7.3%   100.0%  
  18-20/3/2002 Follow-up survey   1019*   2.4%   41.8%   30.8%   16.4%   2.4%   6.2%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 Instant survey   539*   3.4%   43.8%   22.9%   13.8%   3.6%   12.6%   100.0%  
  30-31/3/2001 Follow-up survey   424*   1.9%   37.7%   29.9%   17.3%   4.0%   9.2%   100.0%  
  7-8/3/2001 Instant survey   263*   3.4%   53.6%   24.7%   11.9%   1.0%   5.5%   100.0%  
  20/3/2000 Follow-up survey   615*   3.1%   60.7%   18.1%   4.4%   1.6%   12.1%   100.0%  
  8/3/2000 Instant survey   643*   7.9%   62.4%   11.8%   3.4%   0.6%   13.8%   100.0%  
  18/3/1999 Follow-up survey   511*   2.9%   54.1%   21.0%   10.2%   1.0%   10.8%   100.0%  
  3/3/1999 Instant survey   598*   2.0%   43.8%   27.1%   8.5%   1.5%   17.1%   100.0%  
  24/2/1998 Follow-up survey   522*   2.7%   57.2%   20.1%   8.6%   0.9%   10.4%   100.0%  
  18/2/1998 Instant survey   638*   4.2%   50.5%   19.5%   6.9%   0.5%   18.3%   100.0%  

Collapsed data

 Date of survey Instant survey / Follow-up survey   Sub-sample base   Satisfied   Half-half   Dissatisfied   DK/HS   Total  
  12-13/3/2003 Follow-up survey   920*   13.0%   16.2%   65.1%   5.6%   100.0%  
  5/3/2003 Instant survey   495*   19.9%   23.2%   49.6%   7.3%   100.0%  
  18-20/3/2002 Follow-up survey   1019*   44.2%   30.8%   18.9%   6.2%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 Instant survey   539*   47.2%   22.9%   17.4%   12.6%   100.0%  
  30-31/3/2001 Follow-up survey   424*   39.6%   29.9%   21.3%   9.2%   100.0%  
  7-8/3/2001 Instant survey   263*   57.0%   24.7%   12.8%   5.5%   100.0%  
  20/3/2000 Follow-up survey   615*   63.8%   18.1%   5.0%   12.1%   100.0%  
  8/3/2000 Instant survey   643*   70.3%   11.8%   4.0%   13.8%   100.0%  
  18/3/1999 Follow-up survey   511*   57.0%   21.0%   11.2%   10.8%   100.0%  
  3/3/1999 Instant survey   598*   45.8%   27.1%   10.0%   17.1%   100.0%  
  24/2/1998 Follow-up survey   522*   59.9%   20.1%   9.5%   10.4%   100.0%  
  18/2/1998 Instant survey   638*   54.7%   19.5%   7.4%   18.3%   100.0%  

Excluding those who had not heard of the Budget


The Financial Secretary said that it could be both the worst and the best of times for Hong Kong's economy at present. Do you agree with what he said?

Date of Survey Instant survey / Follow-up survey   Agree   Disagree   DK/HS   Total  
  12-13/3/2003 Follow-up survey   19.5%   65.8%   14.7%   100.0%  
  5/3/2003 Instant survey   18.4%   64.8%   16.8%   100.0%  


The Financial Secretary said that he would keep his target set last year, which was to achieve consolidated and operating balances by 2006/07. Do you think the government can achieve this? (2003)
The Financial Secretary reported the government had operating deficits for four consecutive years, and his target was to achieve consolidated and operating balances by 2006/07. Do you think the government can achieve this? (2002)

Date of Survey Instant survey / Follow-up survey   Yes   No   DK/HS   Total  
  12-13/3/2003 Follow-up survey   11.4%   69.9%   18.7%   100.0%  
  5/3/2003 Instant survey   16.8%   62.3%   20.9%   100.0%  
  18-20/3/2002 Follow-up survey   25.3%   51.3%   23.4%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 Instant survey   30.7%   38.4%   30.9%   100.0%  


The key measures for "raising revenue" proposed by the Financial Secretary included increasing the standard rate of tax by 1 percentage point to 16%, increasing the profits tax rate by 1.5 percentage points to 17.5%, and increasing the property tax rate by 1 percentage point to 16%, all implemented in different phases. Other suggested measures were to raise the Air Passenger Departure Tax from $80 to $120, and to stop freezing government fees and charges. Overall speaking, do you agree to these "revenue-raising" measures?


Date of Survey Instant survey / Follow-up survey   Agree   Disagree   DK/HS   Total  
  12-13/3/2003 Follow-up survey   37.4%   48.3%   14.3%   100.0%  
  5/3/2003 Instant survey   42.0%   41.7%   16.3%   100.0%  


The key measures for "cutting expenditure" proposed by the Financial Secretary included reducing the establishment of the civil service by 10%, reducing the social security payment by 11%, and a 6% pay-cut for civil servants implemented in different phases. Overall speaking, do you agree to these "expenditure-cutting" measures?


Date of Survey Instant survey / Follow-up survey   Agree   Disagree   DK/HS   Total  
  12-13/3/2003 Follow-up survey   47.4%   38.6%   14.0%   100.0%  
  5/3/2003 Instant survey   55.7%   31.3%   12.9%   100.0%  


The Financial Secretary said that it would be necessary to raise additional revenue of $20 billion in the coming 4 years, but only measures to raise $14 billion were presented this year. Are you confident that the government would be able to handle the "revenue-raising" tasks for the remaining $6 billion properly?

Date of Survey Instant survey / Follow-up survey   Yes   No   DK/HS   Total  
  12-13/3/2003 Follow-up survey   17.3%   65.7%   17.0%   100.0%  
  5/3/2003 Instant survey   21.6%   59.2%   19.2%   100.0%  


Overall speaking, do you think the tax system in Hong Kong is fair or unfair?

Date of Survey Instant survey / Follow-up survey   Very fair   Quite fair   Quite unfair   Very unfair   DK/HS   Total  
  12-13/3/2003 Follow-up survey   4.9%   44.7%   21.3%   15.5%   13.6%   100.0%  
  5/3/2003 Instant survey   6.1%   44.5%   19.4%   14.0%   16.0%   100.0%  
  18-20/3/2002 Follow-up survey   7.1%   56.0%   17.4%   7.4%   12.1%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 Instant survey   6.3%   48.7%   20.8%   7.9%   16.3%   100.0%  

Collapsed data

Date of Survey Instant survey / Follow-up survey   Fair   Unfair   DK/HS   Total  
  12-13/3/2003 Follow-up survey   49.6%   36.8%   13.6%   100.0%  
  5/3/2003 Instant survey   50.6%   33.4%   16.0%   100.0%  
  18-20/3/2002 Follow-up survey   63.1%   24.8%   12.1%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 Instant survey   55.0%   28.7%   16.3%   100.0%  


Then, do you think the distribution of wealth in Hong Kong is reasonable or unreasonable?

Date of Survey Instant survey / Follow-up survey   Very reasonable   Quite reasonable   Quite unreasonable   Very unreasonable   DK/HS   Total  
  12-13/3/2003 Follow-up survey   1.3%   17.8%   26.6%   38.3%   16.0%   100.0%  
  5/3/2003 Instant survey   1.5%   17.1%   28.1%   32.0%   21.3%   100.0%  
  18-20/3/2002 Follow-up survey   1.7%   24.4%   32.5%   20.2%   21.3%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 Instant survey   1.4%   23.9%   28.5%   23.3%   22.9%   100.0%  

Collapsed data

Date of Survey Instant survey / Follow-up survey   Reasonable   Unreasonable   DK/HS   Total  
  12-13/3/2003 Follow-up survey   19.1%   64.9%   16.0%   100.0%  
  5/3/2003 Instant survey   18.6%   60.1%   21.3%   100.0%  
  18-20/3/2002 Follow-up survey   26.1%   52.7%   21.3%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 Instant survey   25.3%   51.8%   22.9%   100.0%