HONG KONG - Hong Kong Governor Mr Chris Patten, dismissed by some as heading a lame duck administration, is a more popular leader than the man chosen by China to replace him, a poll has shown.
Mr Patten's popularity level has eclipsed that of chief executive designate, Mr Tung Cheehwa, for the first time since polls comparing the two were made in October, according to the poll commissioned by Asia Television.
The drop in the rating for Mr Tung, who will become leader after July 1st, was due to an ongoing row over China's plans to scrap or replace 25 Hong Kong laws, including key civil liberties legislation. Tung supports the law changes.