The number of Hongkongers who identify themselves as 'Chinese' has reached a post-handover high, a survey has found.
Thirty-nine per cent of Hongkongers identify themselves as Chinese, last week's survey by the University of Hong Kong found, up from 27 per cent in mid-December.
Respondents were asked to choose from four identities - 'Hong Kong citizens', 'Chinese-Hong Kong citizens', 'Chinese citizens' and 'Hong Kong-Chinese citizens'.
Only 18 per cent said they were Hong Kong citizens, down from 23 per cent six months ago, while 42 per cent chose a mixed identity of Hong Kong plus Chinese citizenship.
In August 1997, less than 20 per cent identified themselves as Chinese citizens, while nearly 35 per cent declared themselves Hong Kong citizens. The latest survey interviewed 1,012 Hongkongers.
Robert Chung Ting-yiu, director of the public opinion programme at the University of Hong Kong, said the increased strength of the 'Chinese' identity was probably due to sentiments surrounding the forthcoming Beijing Olympics and last month's Sichuan earthquake.
