ANTI-SMOKING consciousness is growing on the mainland in spite of the increasing presence of tobacco companies, according to the director of the Hong Kong-based Asian Consultancy on Tobacco Control.
Dr Judith Mackay said yesterday she believed the smoking population would eventually shrink, although statistics indicated more Chinese youth had started smoking.
She has just returned from Beijing after taking part in a three-day anti-smoking conference.
Foreign tobacco firms have been active in exploring the Chinese market and at least one major American tobacco firm has been able to circumvent Chinese law and advertise in the media.
It is estimated that there are more than 300 million smokers in China, and 50 million people now under the age of 20 are expected to be afflicted with diseases related to smoking by the year 2050.
Dr Mackay has been invited by the Beijing Government to serve as a consultant in its bid to host the 1997 World Conference on Tobacco or Health, organised by the Geneva-based International Union Against Cancer every three years.
Dr Mackay said she was encouraged by the ''genuine commitment'' against smoking demonstrated by the Government and a rising public awareness of the ills of smoking.
