More Hong Kong residents are identifying themselves as Chinese instead of Hongkongers following the Sichuan earthquake, a survey conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) revealed.

The survey, conducted between Monday and Wednesday, revealed that 59.9 percent of the 1,111 respondents identified themselves as Chinese, a record high since the first of such survey was conducted in 1996.

Only 35.9 percent of the respondents identified themselves as Chinese in a similar survey six months ago.

The proportion of respondents identifying themselves as Hongkongers has dropped by 23.4 percent from last month's survey to 28.1 percent.

Nearly 90 percent of the respondents said they had felt more patriotic after the earthquake, with 39.2 percent saying the change in such sentiment is significant.

"The disaster was so devastating that Hong Kong people feel for the mainlanders. They are beginning to see mainlanders as one of their own," CUHK Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies professor Timothy Wong Ka-ying explained.

Nearly all respondents said they were concerned about the disaster, and 84.6 percent of them had already made donations.

Most of the respondents who had not donated money said they intended to do so.

More than 85 percent of the respondents said they were satisfied with the rescue efforts by the central government. Only 0.4 percent were dissatisfied.

Nearly 89 percent of the respondents said they were pleased with the performance of the People's Liberation Army in rescuing the victims. Only 0.5 percent were dissatisfied.

In regard to Hong Kong people's trust in the central government, the survey revealed that 72.3 percent responded positively, compared to 47.6 percent last month and 49.4 percent six months ago.

But Wong added that such "earthquake effect" could be temporary, and it may take a long time to nurture patriotism of Hong Kong people.

(HK Edition 05/23/2008 page1)