The outgoing Chinese leader has been ranked in the top 3 in the latest opinion poll on the ranking of cross-strait leaders in Hong Kong. According to academic analysis, the survey results reflect Hong Kong people’s nostalgia for the good old days, as well as their dissatisfaction and pessimism about the current social situation.
On Tuesday (February 2), the Hong Kong Institute of Public Opinion Research (HKIPOR) released its half-yearly survey on the popularity ratings of political figures on both sides of the strait. Results showed that, among the 10 most well-known leaders of Hong Kong people in China and Taiwan, in terms of support rating, Zhu Rongji topped the list, attaining 67.7 marks, while Wen Jiabao ranked 2nd, with 61.9 marks. Wen Jiabao ranked 2nd with 61.9 marks, followed by Hu Jintao, Li Keqiang, Tsai Ing-wen and Xi Jinping.
Compared to the last survey conducted six months ago, that is, in late July 2020, the ratings of the top 10 cross-strait political figures have increased significantly for 9 of them, with Xi Jinping’s rating increasing the most, by 10.2 marks to 50.9 marks compared to 40.7 marks six months ago. However, she still scored higher than Xi Jinping.
Hong Kong people project their frustration on Tsai
According to HKUPOP’s analysis, the top 3 cross-strait leaders are outgoing Chinese leaders, including Zhu Rongji, Wen Jiabao and Hu Jintao. Their ratings continue to be in the top 3, reflecting Hong Kong people’s nostalgia for the good old days, as well as their dissatisfaction and pessimism towards the current social situation.
Zhong Jianhua said: “That is, we know that in 1998 Zhu Rongji as (China) Premier of the State Council, when Hong Kong has just returned (transfer of sovereignty) the whole atmosphere is still good, the economic climate at the Time, although the Asian financial crisis has begun, but basically the political atmosphere is still optimistic.”
Zhong Jianhua believes it is important to consider why the outgoing Chinese leaders have a much higher rating than the current ones.
Zhong Jianhua said, “So when we see these three people at the top of the list every time, it’s really worthwhile to think about why, why not the one who is in power now ranks the highest?”
Zhong Jianhua said that this time Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen still scored higher than Xi Jinping, and that Chinese leaders should think about whether they can still use the Taiwan version of “one country, two systems” to deal with cross-strait issues.
Zhong Jianhua said, “You still talk to people about the Taiwan version of one country, two systems, that is, I think this is a rather interesting way of speaking, why not the Taiwan version of the democratic system?
Hong Kong people’s distrust and dissatisfaction with Beijing is still at a high level
Hong Kong people’s mistrust and dissatisfaction with Beijing remains at a high level, according to Chung, who said that Hong Kong people’s dissatisfaction with the spread of the new pneumonia Epidemic is still attributed to Beijing’s concealment of the epidemic and the implementation of the national security law.
Hong Kong people seem to be quite insistent and aware that the blame for the spread of the epidemic started because of Wuhan,” said Jianhua Zhong. Recently there was another survey, not done by us, talking about whether Hong Kong people will be vaccinated, the number of people willing to be vaccinated is less, less than half of them now say they are willing to be vaccinated, and those who are willing to be vaccinated with that vaccine in (China), only about 30%.”
Chung also said that compared to Xi Jinping and Tsai Ing-wen who got more than 70% popularity on the nomination, the popularity of the cross-strait political figures ranked 3rd to 10th only ranged from 5% to 30%, which he believed reflected Hong Kong people’s growing alienation from China.
Robert Ting-Yiu Chung says Xi Jinping’s score has rebounded slightly from its low level
In addition, Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, CEO of HKUPOP, said in a press conference that the last survey on the popularity of cross-strait political figures was conducted just before the implementation of the National Security Law for one month, and many of the survey figures were at a low level. The change in the ratings of political figures on both sides of the Taiwan Strait as shown in this survey is, in his opinion, a slight rebound from the lowest level.
Robert Chung said, “The National Security Law has definitely made the popularity of many officials and leaders of the Central Government very low in the minds of the public, but now it has gone up a little bit. The central government have some micro-words, so that he (Xi Jinping) some sympathy points.”
(Original title: outgoing Chinese leaders people look far higher Xi Jinping Hong Kong scholars call for reflection)
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