Hong Kong - The number of people who believe Hong Kong's leader is doing a good job has fallen to an all-time low, a survey published Wednesday claims.

The survey of more than 1,000 people claimed only 32 per cent were happy with Chief Executive Donald Tsang's performance - the lowest level since the regular survey was first carried out in 2002.

The figure is 24 percentage points lower than a similar survey carried out in February this year and puts Tsang behind predecessor Tung Chee-hwa in the dark days of the SARS outbreak in 2003 when 36.5 per cent of respondents claimed to be satisfied with the work of the leader.

However, in the poll, carried out last week by the University of Hong Kong, Tsang's popularity remained relatively steady with a rating of 54.8, a 0.3 point increase on a 100-point scale.

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.

Ironically, the tumbling levels of support and confidence in Tsang is in contrast to the praise heaped on him by China's leaders for his running of the former British colony with a population of 6.9 million.

There is no popular vote for the position of chief executive in Hong Kong. Tsang was chosen for his current five-year term in 2007 by a 800-member, largely pro-Beijing election committee. (dpa)