Hong Kong’s new government team led by Chief Executive John LEE Ka-chiu has assumed office for more than 100 days since 1 July 2022. In the past three months, the government has implemented various measures to resume Hong Kong citizens’ daily lives to normalcy by gradually relaxing the quarantine period from seven days to “3+4” and finally the existing “0+3” which was announced in September this year. Among the unprecedented challenges, the new government has to deal with the consequences brought by COVID and execute appropriate policies in order to gain the citizens’ trust. 

Professor Christine HUANG Yi-hui, Chair Professor of CityU’s Department of Media and Communication, together with Dr LIN Fen and Dr SUN Ye from the same department, set to study the local citizens’ trust in the HKSAR Government and its health units. They conducted online surveys with the same group of 935 Hong Kong citizens aged 20+ in March-April 2022 and August-September 2022. The objective is to identify the changes in the respondents’ trust in the Government and its health units over the half year. 

The major findings are as follows:

1.Compared with the survey results in March-April 2022, the results from August-September 2022 showed that over 43.6% of the respondents indicated increased trust in the Government, while 12.6% indicated decreased trust in the Government (see Appendix I);

2.Regarding the changes in the respondent’s trust in the Government, participants responded differently and varied in gender and age. Overall, the groups with increased trust are primarily females and the elderly.

i.Almost 50% of female respondents (47.6%) indicated increased trust in the Government, while nearly 40% of the male respondents (38.9%) indicated increased trust (see Appendix II);

ii.Among the elderly respondents (aged 50+), 52.0% expressed increased trust in the Government. The proportion of younger respondents with increased trust is relatively lower at 30% approximately (Aged 20-29: 34.8%; Aged 30-39: 33.1%). Also, among the respondents aged 20-29, 22.5% indicated decreased trust in the Government, which marked the highest proportion of all age groups (see Appendix III);

3.Over 40% of the respondents indicated increased trust in the following health units: Food and Health Bureau (43.7%), Department of Health (42.0%), Centre for Health Protection (40.2%), and Hospital Authority (41.4%) (see Appendix IV);

4.Controlling the demographic variables, such as age, gender, educational level, and income, the survey discovers that the anti-epidemic information and measures of the health units significantly enhanced the people’s trust in the HKSAR Government. When the public considers the information announced by the health units as more accurate, transparent, open, and practical, they tend to trust the Government more. This tendency is also applicable when the public considers the anti-epidemic measures of the health units as timely, proactive, well-investigated in advance, and judicious about all stakeholders and citizens;

5.Compared with the survey results in March-April 2022, the results from August-September 2022 showed that over 65.0% of the respondents indicated an increase in positive evaluations of the anti-epidemic information and measures provided by the health units, while 23.7% indicated decreased evaluations (see Appendix V).

In summary, the survey discovers that Hong Kong citizens’ trust in the HKSAR Government and its health units has increased since the new-term Government is in office. Also, the Government and health units’ anti-epidemic information and measures have significantly influenced people’s trust.  

Professor Huang remarks, “Compared to one-off surveys, the longitudinal survey enables us to track the changes in the attitudes and behaviours of the same subject over time, and to further analyse the underlying reasons for the changes. As Hong Kong citizens’ trust in the HKSAR Government and the health units has increased, the Government should seize the chance to further implement precise and responsive anti-epidemic policies.” 

Dr Lin considers that Hong Kong is about to enter the “post-epidemic” stage. She suggests, “At this stage, the government should coordinate various departments to cooperate and execute an effective combination of policies to help citizens in different classes and groups recover and prosper.”

Dr Sun adds, “The differences among age groups are not to be overlooked. The new government should pay special attention to citizens under the age of 40 (a much smaller ratio of increased versus decreased trust compared to other age groups) to better understand their specific expectations of the government. Based on such understanding, the government should strengthen effective communication with and optimise policies for these age groups to earn their trust and cooperation.”