Hong Kong - The popularity of Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang has plunged to an all-time low after a series of government blunders this summer, according to an opinion poll Wednesday.

Thirty-four per cent of people interviewed in the six-monthly poll said they were dissatisfied with the performance of Beijing-appointed Tsang compared to just 13 per cent in February.

The number of people who said they were happy with Tsang's performance, meanwhile, was just 29 per cent compared to 47 per cent six months ago, University of Hong Kong researchers found.

A fortnightly poll on Tsang's popularity released by the same researchers Wednesday found his overall approval rating had tumbled from 66 per cent in May to just over 54 per cent in August.

The plunge in Tsang's ratings follow a summer in which the government has been heavily criticised for a series of blunders which opponents say has made it look inept.

Tsang's administration was accused of a lack of transparency in appointing political assistants on high salaries, some of whom turned out to be overseas passport holders.

It then caused chaos in July by scrapping a levy on foreign maids apparently without realising it would lead to a huge rush by employers to renew their maids' contracts.

Finally, a minister was forced to apologize after a former Hong Kong director of housing was allowed to take up a job with a property developer he dealt with during his time in office.

Tsang began his reign as chief executive in June 2005 on a wave of public support with almost 80 per cent of people saying they would vote for him if they were able to.

There is no popular vote for the position of chief executive in Hong Kong. Tsang was chosen by an 800-member, largely pro-Beijing election committee and his term of office ends in 2012. (dpa)