Robert Chung Ting-yiu
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert Chung is the Director of Public Opinion Programme (POP) at the University of Hong Kong.
. He obtained his Bachelor degree, Master of Philosophy in Sociology and PhD Degree from The University of Hong Kong. His fields of research interest include electoral studies, political culture, public opinion, rural politics, mobility studies, media performance, youth culture and tradition in modernity.
He joined the Social Sciences Research Centre of the University of Hong Kong when it was established in 1987. In 1991, he set up the POP within the centre and began to study the development of public opinion
in Hong Kong
. To match the development of the university, Dr. Chung and his POP team was transferred to the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at the university on 1 May 2000, and then back to the Faculty of Social Sciences on 1 January 2002.
The programme regularly conducts independent surveys, covers media development, and launches electoral studies, policy issues, and youth studies. Under his leadership, the propgramme is famous for being impartial and professional, and is a highly respected public opinion study programme in the region. Its studies are widely covered in mass media and frequently cited in academic publications.
Dr Chung has written numerous articles on public opinion and social surveys published in various journals and periodicals, and is the Chief Editor of the monthly POP newsletters, POP Express, and the HKU POP Site.
Besides, Dr Chung is a Panelist of Television Programme Advisory Panel of Radio Television Hong Kong
(RTHK) and a Panelist of the Television Programme Appreciation Index Research Panel. From 1993 to 1994, Dr Chung served as a part-time community panelist of the Central Policy Unit
of the Hong Kong Government. He then became a part-time member of the Central Policy Unit between 1994 and 1999. Between 1997 and 2003, he served as a member of the Community Research Sub-committee of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations of the Independent Commission Against Corruption
(ICAC), and between 1998 and 2003, as a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations.
Internationally, he has been the Hong Kong representative at the World Association for Public Opinion Research
(WAPOR) for a number of years. From 2006 to 2008, Dr Chung was the elected Secretary-Treasurer of WAPOR. He is also a member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Public Opinion Research
.
Tung Chee-hwa through Vice-Chancellor Prof Cheng Yiu-chung and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Wong Siu-lun to discontinue his public opinion polls on Tung and his government.
Although the allegations were denied by Tung and HKU, a controversy erupted over the question of political interference in academic freedom
. HKU set up a three-member panel led by Justice Noel Power to investigate Chung's claims. After 11 days of open hearings in August, the panel concluded that there were what it called "covert attempts" to pressure Chung into discontinuing his polls. The panel concluded that Dr. Chung is "an honest witness who was telling the truth in relation to the matters he is complaining about", but "neither Lo [The Chief Executive's Senior Special Assistant] nor the vice chancellor disclosed the full and truthful extent of what was said in [the] meetings". The saga ended with the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong - Prof. Cheng Yiu-chung and Prof. Wong Siu-lun just before the University Council met on 9 September to vote on whether or not to accept the panel's report. At the end, Dr Chung's Public Opinion Programme continues to function and is growing from strength to strength in the years subsequent to that crisis, and becoming arguably the most authoritative source of public opinion information and assessment in Hong Kong.
. He has been the Warden of R. C. Lee Hall since 1992. Although he said that he had learned a lot from St. John's College, he thinks, apart from the traditional hall education in the University, which primarily advocates collectivism
, focuses on inter-hall competition and creates greater social pressure among residents, there are other possible ways to conduct education in halls. Such belief is reflected by the past and current Motto of R. C. Lee Hall, respectively Hall with a Mission and Liberty with Responsibility, Unity in Diversity.
is his favourite sport, he was once an enthusiast about track and field
, swimming
, softball
, volleyball
and windsurfing
. Besides the above-mentioned, he participated in cricket
, lacross, tennis
, squash
, and badminton
Interall-Hall competition in the University as well. He was once the coach of the University Hockey team, while currently he coaches the hockey team of his hall. He also participates in the amateur league organized by the Hong Kong Hockey Association.
In addition to sports, astronomy
is also Dr. Chung's interest.
Study and career
Dr Chung graduated from Diocesan Boys' SchoolDiocesan Boys' School
Diocesan Boys' School is a boys' school located at 131 Argyle Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was founded in 1869, making it one of the oldest secondary schools in Hong Kong....
. He obtained his Bachelor degree, Master of Philosophy in Sociology and PhD Degree from The University of Hong Kong. His fields of research interest include electoral studies, political culture, public opinion, rural politics, mobility studies, media performance, youth culture and tradition in modernity.
He joined the Social Sciences Research Centre of the University of Hong Kong when it was established in 1987. In 1991, he set up the POP within the centre and began to study the development of public opinion
Public opinion
Public opinion is the aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs held by the adult population. Public opinion can also be defined as the complex collection of opinions of many different people and the sum of all their views....
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. To match the development of the university, Dr. Chung and his POP team was transferred to the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at the university on 1 May 2000, and then back to the Faculty of Social Sciences on 1 January 2002.
The programme regularly conducts independent surveys, covers media development, and launches electoral studies, policy issues, and youth studies. Under his leadership, the propgramme is famous for being impartial and professional, and is a highly respected public opinion study programme in the region. Its studies are widely covered in mass media and frequently cited in academic publications.
Dr Chung has written numerous articles on public opinion and social surveys published in various journals and periodicals, and is the Chief Editor of the monthly POP newsletters, POP Express, and the HKU POP Site.
Besides, Dr Chung is a Panelist of Television Programme Advisory Panel of Radio Television Hong Kong
Radio Television Hong Kong
Radio Television Hong Kong is a public broadcasting organisation in Hong Kong that is operated as an independent department in the government under the Broadcasting Authority. RTHK operates seven radio channels, and produces television programmes that are then broadcast through local television...
(RTHK) and a Panelist of the Television Programme Appreciation Index Research Panel. From 1993 to 1994, Dr Chung served as a part-time community panelist of the Central Policy Unit
Central Policy Unit
The Central Policy Unit , established in 1989, is responsible for advising the Chief Executive of Hong Kong.-Senior staff:Head, CPU* Professor Lau Siu-kai Deputy Head, CPU* Mr Robin IPMembers...
of the Hong Kong Government. He then became a part-time member of the Central Policy Unit between 1994 and 1999. Between 1997 and 2003, he served as a member of the Community Research Sub-committee of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations of the Independent Commission Against Corruption
Independent Commission Against Corruption (Hong Kong)
The Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong was established by Governor Murray MacLehose on 15 February 1974, when Hong Kong was under British rule. Its main aim was to clean up endemic corruption in the many departments of the Hong Kong Government through law enforcement,...
(ICAC), and between 1998 and 2003, as a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations.
Internationally, he has been the Hong Kong representative at the World Association for Public Opinion Research
World Association for Public Opinion Research
The World Association for Public Opinion Research is an international professional association of researchers in the fields of communication and survey research...
(WAPOR) for a number of years. From 2006 to 2008, Dr Chung was the elected Secretary-Treasurer of WAPOR. He is also a member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Public Opinion Research
International Journal of Public Opinion Research
The International Journal of Public Opinion Research is a quarterly social science journal sponsored by the World Association for Public Opinion Research and published by Oxford University Press....
.
Issues concerning academic freedom
In the summer of 2000, he sparked a controversy over the alleged government interference of his Public Opinion Programme. He alleged that he had received political pressure from Chief Executive of Hong KongChief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
Tung Chee-hwa through Vice-Chancellor Prof Cheng Yiu-chung and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Wong Siu-lun to discontinue his public opinion polls on Tung and his government.
Although the allegations were denied by Tung and HKU, a controversy erupted over the question of political interference in academic freedom
Academic freedom
Academic freedom is the belief that the freedom of inquiry by students and faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts without being targeted for repression, job loss, or imprisonment.Academic freedom is a...
. HKU set up a three-member panel led by Justice Noel Power to investigate Chung's claims. After 11 days of open hearings in August, the panel concluded that there were what it called "covert attempts" to pressure Chung into discontinuing his polls. The panel concluded that Dr. Chung is "an honest witness who was telling the truth in relation to the matters he is complaining about", but "neither Lo [The Chief Executive's Senior Special Assistant] nor the vice chancellor disclosed the full and truthful extent of what was said in [the] meetings". The saga ended with the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong - Prof. Cheng Yiu-chung and Prof. Wong Siu-lun just before the University Council met on 9 September to vote on whether or not to accept the panel's report. At the end, Dr Chung's Public Opinion Programme continues to function and is growing from strength to strength in the years subsequent to that crisis, and becoming arguably the most authoritative source of public opinion information and assessment in Hong Kong.
Hall education
Besides his academic study, Dr Chung is also a firm supporter on Hall Education. Living in St. John's College of the University during his undergraduate and postgraduate study, he later became the residential tutor in Old Hall and Swire HallSwire Hall
Swire Hall is an undergraduate, co-educational dormitory in the University of Hong Kong . Opened on 30 November 1980, it is named after the Swire Group, a British transnational corporation, whose financial contributions made possible the building of the hall.Situated up a three-storey staircase...
. He has been the Warden of R. C. Lee Hall since 1992. Although he said that he had learned a lot from St. John's College, he thinks, apart from the traditional hall education in the University, which primarily advocates collectivism
Collectivism
Collectivism is any philosophic, political, economic, mystical or social outlook that emphasizes the interdependence of every human in some collective group and the priority of group goals over individual goals. Collectivists usually focus on community, society, or nation...
, focuses on inter-hall competition and creates greater social pressure among residents, there are other possible ways to conduct education in halls. Such belief is reflected by the past and current Motto of R. C. Lee Hall, respectively Hall with a Mission and Liberty with Responsibility, Unity in Diversity.
Interest
Dr. Chung is also very keen on sports. While field hockeyField hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
is his favourite sport, he was once an enthusiast about track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
and windsurfing
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
. Besides the above-mentioned, he participated in cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, lacross, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
, and badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
Interall-Hall competition in the University as well. He was once the coach of the University Hockey team, while currently he coaches the hockey team of his hall. He also participates in the amateur league organized by the Hong Kong Hockey Association.
In addition to sports, astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
is also Dr. Chung's interest.