Remove food tray after your meal: PM

 Clearing the table by returning the food tray at food centres and food courts is a habit that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong would like to see inculcated in Singaporeans.

Speaking at the National Day Rally, he said every national serviceman would remove their food tray after finishing their meal. So he could not understand why this was not practised when they were outside the army.

"I don't understand. Every national serviceman knows exactly what to do in his cookhouse. Maybe need more reservist training," he remarked.

"So it's going to take time to change the mindset", which is currently: " I go to the foodcourts to eat and not to clean tables", he added.

PM Lee mentioned that he received an email from a woman on this topic. "She said: Actually we should feel quite embarrassed to leave our dirty plates and dirty tables for the next diner. In my mum's house, after eating, we will clear our plates and clean the table...This is a good habit we should adopt outside the home."

The woman was giving an idea on how to make Singapore a happier place to live in.

In his speech, Mr Lee also mentioned other habits that Singaporeans should cultivate to improve their social graces. Like saying "Please", staying on one side of the escalator and observing pedestrian crossing rules.

On the positive side, the Prime Minister noted that Singaporeans have improved on social graces over the years but could do better. Generally they sat properly in the cinemas instead of resting their feet over the seat in front and that they also expressed "Thank You" after they were being served.

He concluded: "I think the best way to focus our efforts is when there is a major event and we're put to the test. And we've done well before - the International Olympic Council meeting in 2005, the IMF and World Bank meetings in 2006. And we put up a really good show, not just to impress people but because that's the way we wanted to be. And now, we've to prepare for other major events: F1 next month, Apec next year, Youth Olympic Games in 2010. Let's use these opportunities to improve our social graces."