Researchers warn millions in China may die from smoking

Asian Economic News, August 20, 2001

HONG KONG, Aug. 16 Kyodo

Millions of Chinese men could be killed by tobacco in the next few decades if smoking habits are not changed, Hong Kong researchers warned Thursday.

Citing new research on male deaths in Hong Kong, researchers projected one third of young men on the Chinese mainland today will die from tobacco-related problems in years to come unless an anti-smoking campaign is stepped up.

The Hong Kong study found tobacco caused 33% of the deaths of men aged between 35 and 69 in 1998.

''What is shown is the magnitude of the problem,'' said T.H. Lam, a member of the study team and a professor at the University of Hong Kong.

''Now it shows that Chinese will die like Western people if they smoke similarly,'' Lam said.

Researchers said the Hong Kong findings, mirroring studies in Western countries years ago, are also applicable to China.

The growing smoking-related health problem in China may worsen and reach the level of Hong Kong, a Chinese special administrative region, in the next few decades, they added.