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GUANGZHOU'S man-in-the-street now shares the same dream as his Hong Kong counterpart - to become a millionaire overnight.

  The newly introduced lottery - the equivalent of Hong Kong's Mark Six - has made the weekly Monday draw the feature of the week, with people from all walks of life having a go at winning the ''big one''.

  Tickets for the Social Welfare ''Mark Your Numbers'' Lottery are available at more than 200 betting centres in convenience stores, finance offices and bookshops throughout the city.

  In the seven months since the lottery was introduced, officials say betting levels have jumped sharply from an initial outlay of about 400,000 yuan (HK$540,000) to this month's record of 29 million yuan.

  Throughout the city long queues form as punters - who buy on average five tickets - dream of getting the right combination from the 42-number draw to win the cash prize. The highest jackpot to date was around four million yuan.

  One betting centre salesgirl said many people were spending more than 100 yuan - around a fifth of the average monthly salary.

  However, some people say they are not simply in the lottery for the money.

  ''In one way I pay the money to charity,'' said a woman who had just spent 50 yuan at a betting centre.

  The Government-operated lottery stipulates that 45 per cent of the cash bet goes to charities for the handicapped, elderly and child welfare, while the rest meets the cost of the prize money.

  Three fixed amounts, from 20 to 800 yuan, are paid to punters who get three to four numbers plus an extra number right, while people who get five numbers or all six numbers win third, second and first prizes.

  It is estimated the government will have raked in 20 million yuan to spend on social welfare by the end of the month.

  Another punter, Ms Wang, acknowledged the likelihood of winning was slim, but explained her outlay by saying: ''I am just buying a hope.''   However, she criticised the lottery because it would encourage gambling, especially among children, who were allowed to bet.

  But 10-year-old Chen Ziyuen, who was buying tickets in a store, said he regarded it as a game rather than gambling.

  ''I only bet two dollars each time,'' he said. ''If I lose, the money will go to charity.''   But he did dream of winning. ''If I win, my family can buy a big house which my mother has longed for . . . and I want a Gameboy.'' 



'If I win, my family can buy a big house which my mother has longed for . . .