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

Date of survey Very satisfied   Quite satisfied   Half-half   Not quite satisfied   Very dissatisfied   DK/HS   Total  
  5/3/2003 0.7%   11.2%   17.5%   29.8%   15.6%   25.3%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 0.7%   25.6%   21.2%   17.2%   4.2%   31.0%   100.0%  
  7-8/3/2001 1.7%   43.7%   22.8%   11.6%   2.2%   17.9%   100.0%  
  8/3/2000 5.3%   54.7%   16.4%   7.4%   1.2%   15.0%   100.0%  
  18/2/1998 3.4%   38.4%   20.6%   11.6%   1.1%   24.9%   100.0%  

Collapsed data

 Date of survey Satisfied   Half-half   Dissatisfied   DK/HS   Total  
  5/3/2003 11.9%   17.5%   45.3%   25.3%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 26.4%   21.2%   21.4%   31.0%   100.0%  
  7-8/3/2001 45.4%   22.8%   13.9%   17.9%   100.0%  
  8/3/2000 59.9%   16.4%   8.7%   15.0%   100.0%  
  18/2/1998 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 Sub-sample base   Very satisfied   Quite satisfied   Half-half   Not quite satisfied   Very dissatisfied   DK/HS   Total  
  5/3/2003 495*   1.4%   18.5%   23.2%   35.1%   14.5%   7.3%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 539*   3.4%   43.8%   22.9%   13.8%   3.6%   12.6%   100.0%  
  7-8/3/2001 263*   3.4%   53.6%   24.7%   11.9%   1.0%   5.5%   100.0%  
  8/3/2000 739*   7.9%   62.4%   11.8%   3.4%   0.6%   13.8%   100.0%  
  3/3/1999 598*   2.0%   43.8%   27.1%   8.5%   1.5%   17.1%   100.0%  
  18/2/1998 638*   4.2%   50.5%   19.5%   6.9%   0.5%   18.3%   100.0%  

Collapsed data

 Date of survey Sub-sample base   Satisfied   Half-half   Dissatisfied   DK/HS   Total  
  5/3/2003 495*   19.9%   23.2%   49.6%   7.3%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 539*   47.2%   22.9%   17.4%   12.6%   100.0%  
  7-8/3/2001 263*   57.0%   24.7%   12.8%   5.5%   100.0%  
  8/3/2000 739*   70.3%   11.8%   4.0%   13.8%   100.0%  
  3/3/1999 598*   45.8%   27.1%   10.0%   17.1%   100.0%  
  18/2/1998 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 Agree   Disagree   DK/HS   Total  
  5/3/2003 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 Yes   No   DK/HS   Total  
  5/3/2003 16.8%   62.3%   20.9%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 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 Agree   Disagree   DK/HS   Total  
  5/3/2003 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 Agree   Disagree   DK/HS   Total  
  5/3/2003 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 Yes   No   DK/HS   Total  
  5/3/2003 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 Very fair   Quite fair   Quite unfair   Very unfair   DK/HS   Total  
  5/3/2003 6.1%   44.5%   19.4%   14.0%   16.0%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 6.3%   48.7%   20.8%   7.9%   16.3%   100.0%  

Collapsed data

Date of Survey Fair   Unfair   DK/HS   Total  
  5/3/2003 50.6%   33.4%   16.0%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 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 Very reasonable   Quite reasonable   Quite unreasonable   Very unreasonable   DK/HS   Total  
  5/3/2003 1.5%   17.1%   28.1%   32.0%   21.3%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 1.4%   23.9%   28.5%   23.3%   22.9%   100.0%  

Collapsed data

Date of Survey Reasonable   Unreasonable   DK/HS   Total  
  5/3/2003 18.6%   60.1%   21.3%   100.0%  
  6/3/2002 25.3%   51.8%   22.9%   100.0%