HKU Poll Unit Going Private As Leader Retires

The University of Hong Kong’s Public Opinion Programme (HKUPOP) is turning into a private, independent organisation, which will be headed by the current leader, veteran pollster Robert Chung.

Dr Chung has led the university programme since he set it up in 1991, and when he retires at the end of June, he will continue his work as the head of the new Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute.

The institute has been registered and a transition process is ongoing.

HKU’s dean of social science, Professor William Hayward, said it didn’t make sense to continue HKUPOP without Chung.

"Dr Chung is absolutely the leader of POP. When he leaves HKU, then actually it is really difficult for HKU to continue POP," Hayward said.

"In addition, given that, through our discussions, Dr Chung was very keen to set up the institute and I felt that was a very good direction to go, if we were to continue with POP we would be in direct competition with our former colleague. That didn't seem to make a lot of sense."

Chung, meanwhile, said the new institute will continue the work of HKUPOP.

But he also gave a hint of subjects he’ll be looking into in his new role, pointing out that 2022 is the midpoint between the 1997 handover and 2047, when "One Country, Two Systems" could come to an end.

"I myself really that hope that when we come to that year, or near that date, society, academia, whoever in society, will really put their hearts and thoughts into evaluating the success or failure of "One Country, Two Systems" ... and then do something positive," he said.

"One of our tasks would be to bring about this mentality, that we should try to evaluate, appreciate, appraise and then really find a way forward."