BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu called on the Chinese people to develop their "sense of charity" at the awards ceremony of the 2006 China Charity Awards.

    Hui said the Chinese people had a long history of helping each other and had shown more enthusiasm for philanthropy at a time of rapid economic development, but more efforts were needed to further promote people's sense of charity.

    He said the government should work with non-government organizations and encourage individuals and enterprises to give to charity.

    He made the speech at a conference held by the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) on Monday when three people, five enterprises and two charity programs received the 2006 China Charity Awards.

    Hong Kong tycoon Lee Ka-shing won a lifetime honorary award for his long-term contribution to China's charities.

    The value of donations was not the only standard for this year's selection, according to a MCA official. Abulizi Nulaike, one of the prize winners, was honored because he had brought up an abandoned and handicapped child for ten years.

    The awards were launched in 2005.