The news that Hong Kong has one of the highest lung cancer rates in the region despite a relatively low incidence of smoking is particularly disturbing.
Clearly, it indicates that on top of their laudable anti-smoking campaign, the authorities need to take more measures against other contributory causes of smoking.
The air-pollution issue could be addressed even more vigorously, and people need to be aware of potential hazards so that they can make informed decisions on whether a change of lifestyle or dietary habits are good ideas.
We should also be told by experts if we should be concerned, for instance, about breathing in the fumes of vaporized oil from the high-heat cooking process favoured by local people or about the effects of radon gas released during the disintegration of granite, which is quite common in Hong Kong.
WILLIAM CHAO
Mid-Levels
