The Robert Chung affair (), or Chung affair or Pollgate (), was a Hong Kong political scandal in 2000 concerning interference with the work of Robert Chung and the Public Opinion Programme of the University of Hong Kong (HKUPOP), which he led.
Chung accused the Chief Executive, Tung Chee-hwa, of pressuring him to stop publishing the government's approval rating, in messages conveyed by the vice-chancellor and pro-vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong (HKU). The affair attracted public interest because it raised questions of academic freedom and because of the cooperation of university officials with the Chief Executive. An investigation panel set up by HKU held Chung's allegations to be substantiated, after which the vice-chancellor and pro-vice-chancellor resigned. Tung's closest aide Andrew Lo, however, stayed in office despite his involvement.
Background In 1987, HKU established the Social Sciences Research Centre (SSRC) under the Faculty of Social Sciences with Wong Siu-lun, who would later become the pro-vice-chancellor implicated in the scandal, as the inaugural head of the centre. Robert Chung was then a deputy research assistant.
In 1991, the Public Opinion Programme (HKUPOP) of the SSRC was established and tasked with analysing Hong Kong's public opinion. A year later, the HKUPOP conducted its first opinion poll on the approval rating of the then-Governor Chris Patten and members of the Legislative Council; it continued to survey the government's approval rating.
In December 1998, the HKUPOP released the results on the performance of the government in POP Extra in December 1998, which revealed that public satisfaction with the Government had dropped from 43% in late 1997 to 28% in early 1998, and had further declined to 23% in late 1998. Tung's popularity rating dropped from 62.6 to 57.7 in a year. According to Chung, most of the newspaper used headlines to carry the polls and said that "the performance of the Government and the Chief Executive was at a record low".:5 The comments led to concern from the Office of the Chief Executive. In May 2000, the HKUPOP team was transferred into the newly established Journalism and Media Studies Centre.:5
7 July: Chung's revelation On 7 July 2000, Chung wrote in South China Morning Post and Hong Kong Economic Journal that Tung Chee-hwa, the Chief Executive, has been pressuring him "via a special channel" to stop polling him and his government.
On the same day, the Post reported the incident with "Tung tried to warn me off, says pollster" as the front-page story, soon raising a storm of controversies. The authorities immediately denied the accusations, while Chung, who was unaware that his article was to be made a cover story, was under great pressure to reveal the "special channel" referred to in his article.:5
Reactions
Stephen Lam, Information Coordinator of the Chief Executive's Office, said in a statement that "[the] Chief Executive has not given any signals to Dr Robert Chung Ting-yiu to request him to stop carrying out his opinion polls." Tung, in a luncheon, also affirmed that he is "certain" he did not request the HKU to end opinion polls. Leung Chun-ying, Convenor of Executive Council and later Chief Executive, said conveying messages via a third party is definitely not something Tung will do. Paul Yip, Special Advisor to Tung, agreed there might be some misunderstandings as "the government won't act such stupidly".
Anson Chan, the Chief Secretary, insisted the authorities will not interfere in academic freedom nor to exert pressure from behind. Chan criticised Chung for his "very serious" allegations that damaged Tung's image and government's credibility. However, just a day later, she clarified that she wished the Pollgate would come to an end in order not to impact the pollster's work.
After the government's categorical denial, Robert Chung, in the press conference later that afternoon on 7 July, was still muted on the third party involved and the "special channel" he was referring to. Chung said a third party did clearly relayed a message, which he understood as Tung was unhappy with academic work involving polling about him. Chung further said as Tung publicly acknowledged that he values polling by the academics and "at least from now on he will pay very good attention to opinion surveys and academics will not be interfered with or put under any pressure", then there is no need to identify the third party, "that's good enough for me". He added that he only hoped for a peaceful and quiet room to continue with independent survey. On the next day, Chung released another statement, denying any political motivation behind the Pollgate or any intention to harm the authority of the government. Chung said he would apologise to Tung if the scandal turns out to be a misunderstanding.
A spokesman from the HKU said no constraints had been placed on Chung's work nor would they be, and pledged there would be no cut in funding. He said he had no idea whether anyone had put political pressure on Dr Chung. The Students' Union called for an independent committee to be set up to investigate the controversy. Ying Chan, Director of Journalism and Media Studies Centre, said she has never heard of Chung under pressure nor the details of the event, and will ask him to give a clear account of the allegations.
Pollsters affiliated to local universities denied under pressure from the authorities, but Lau Siu-kai from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) later confirmed having met Andrew Lo, a close aid of Tung, in February 2000, to discuss polls on Chief Executive.
Media reports Local media carried the story with significant coverage with editorials commenting the serious accusations, urging Chung to make himself clear and tell the public who is the third party involved. Editorials of local newspapers on 8 July are titled as follows:
"Single out the messenger" (Sing Tao Daily) "Robert Chung, please make yourself clear" (Ming Pao) "Robert Chung shall explain to the public clearly" (Hong Kong Economic Times) "The third party, face the public now!" (Hong Kong Daily News) "Reveal the third party and judge the merit" (Sing Pao) "The naked 'emperor' is indeed disgraceful" (Apple Daily)
Sing Tao Daily said this is not the first time since handover someone claimed ambiguously that agents such as "messengers" of the Chief Executive or Xinhua had been conveying messages. Hong Kong Economic Times said there is no appeal to motive Tung interfering Chung's work, let alone evidence. Ta Kung Pao, a Beijing mouthpiece, on the other hand denounced Chung of stirring up anti-Tung sentiments on the eve of legislative election with unsubstantiated and irresponsible claims, whilst calling for the prosecution of Chung for defamation.
Hong Kong Daily News and Sing Pao believed it is politically and practically impossible for the authorities to demand the university to stop polling. Ming Pao said the Pollgate is a matter of public interest, and will damage both the image of the government and the credibility of Chung if the mystery remains unresolved. Apple Daily slammed the government for unable to tolerate dissidents from unaffiliated and objective academic bodies.
The incident is believed to have undermined the reputation of the government and the Chief Executive because of reports by global news agencies and overseas media.
14 July: Chung's elaboration Under immense pressure from the public, Chung held a press conference on 14 July to elaborate on the identity of the third party – Vice-Chancellor Cheng Yiu-chung, and disclosed the fourth party – Pro-Vice-Chancellor Wong Siu-lun.:4... After the publishing of the article, under the huge pressure of the government and the media, it is not convenient for me to contact the messenger: one of my most respected figures, my teacher [Wong Siu-lun]. Without his assent, I could not place him under such enormous pressure... I have decided to disclose the identity of the "third party": he is the Vice Chancellor Cheng Yiu-Chung. I will give an account of the course and content and time regarding the relaying of the message. I do not have any agreement with Vice-chancellor Cheng Yiu-Chung. There exists no moral obligation to protect the source of the information nor the moral obligation to keep confidential the content of a closed-door conversation. As my teacher has indicated that he respects my decision, I have performed the obligation of an apprentice toward his master. Regarding how the University will handle this issue, how my credibility will be evaluated by society, these are none of my concern.According to Chung, who broke down twice during the emotional conference, he submitted files on pollster's funding and recent activities on 5 January 1999 under Cheng's request a day before. On 29 January, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Wong Siu-lun, who was the doctoral advisor of Chung, invited him to his office, saying Cheng was told the Chief Executive does not like the polling by him. On 1 November in the same year, Wong again told Chung the Vice-Chancellor was "very unhappy", and Chung requested Cheng to give an ending date of the polling. Wong further said Cheng warned reducing the financial support to the HKUPOP bit by bit if the polling work continues. Chung then submitted two written reports to Cheng, which Cheng later denied, believing the Chief Executive "misunderstood" pollster's work, and it would be "unwise" to terminate it.
After The Mirror, a pro-Beijing magazine, questioned the accuracy of Chung's exit poll in the local election and whether the university is "the remnant of colonial government and an anti-communist, anti-China fortress" in January 2000, Cheng asked university seniors for comments on the article. In the reply, Chung conceded to Cheng that he had become the burden of the university.
Reactions The New York Times said, as Chung decided to name names, "a personal dispute has escalated into a furious debate over whether Hong Kong is stifling academic freedom".
14 July: Enquiry announced The HKU released a statement on the same day, 14 July, announcing an independent Commission of Enquiry will be conducted to look into Chung's accusations due to the serious nature.
Wong Siu-lun, in a press conference later that day, clarified the meeting in January 1999 was solely "exchanging views between colleagues". Wong said he told Chung criticisms from some members of the public, including the conflict of role as a pundit and a pollster head, and whether Chung is unbiased. He denied Cheng pressing for the end of the polling work, but admitted he "might have said" Tung did not like Chung's opinion polls.
Cheng Yiu-tong, who was travelling in Britain, released a brief statement on the same day, expressing his "extreme shock" and denied the allegations.
Chief Executive Tung said he has never asked anyone in the HKU to request Chung to stop conducting his opinion polls, neither has he asked anyone to convey any such message to the university. Tung affirmed that the Government "fully respects academic freedom and will not interfere with academic research". Tung's office said it fully supports the university's Commission.
The Students' Union, on the other hand, marched on the campus, calling for Cheng's resignation. They later called for a more independent inquiry and held a 16-hour sit-in outside the vice-chancellor's home.
20 July: Lo's reply As concerns and speculations grew, Andrew Lo, Chief Executive's Senior Special Assistant and one of the closest aid of Tung, released a statement on 20 July, confirming he had met with "people from various sectors of the community" and had "all along discussed these issues with my contacts with an open mind". Lo denied interfering the work of others, "and in fact it is not possible for me to do so".