Official in vow to lift awareness

An official yesterday pledged to boost national consciousness, but said it would be done gradually.

Secretary for Home Affairs David Lan Hong-tsung's comment came after a survey showed 45 per cent of people under 40 years had failed to identify Zhu Rongji as premier.

At the National Day parade, Mr Lan said it was not surprising to find young people had flimsy national consciousness because they had been brought up in a colony.

'What is most important is to know more about one's own place and country. That can be achieved step by step. There's no need to be worried about it,' Mr Lan said.