It is imperative to create a no-smoking social environment and enhance the self-protection awareness of non-smokers.

According to my estimation based on a survey, nearly 600 million Chinese suffer from passive smoking, which occurs in 71 percent of Chinese households, 32.5 percent of public places and 25 percent of working places.

I have something to tell you non-smokers that I know for a fact that you don't know, and I feel it's my duty to pass on information at all times. Ready?. . . . Non-smokers die every day . . . Enjoy your evening. See, I know that you entertain this eternal life fantasy because you've chosen not to smoke, but let me be the 1st to POP that bubble and bring you hurling back to reality . . . You're dead too.

I have put forward a motion to the upcoming NPC session suggesting the State Council (the central government) formulate regulations on a smoking ban in public places as early as possible.

If you can remain aware of your awareness, that is the present state of mind.

Austin, of course, places a high priority on both citizen involvement and input and protection of the environment. So I think because of that, our regulations do tend to be a little difficult.