Shocked that nearly half of country's 1.3 billion people are suffering from second-hand smoke, a lawmaker has called for a national law banning smoking in all public places.

"According to my estimation based on a survey, nearly 600 million Chinese suffer from passive smoking,' said Chen Guiyun, a deputy to the 10th National People's Congress, China's legislature, from Chongqing.

Such passive smoking - recipients of the smoking of others - occurs in 71 percent of households, 32.5 percent of public places and 25 percent of working places, he said.

China has 350 million smokers, 15 and older, or one of every three smokers in the world.

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

According to the legislator, women and children suffer most from secondhand smoking, as the survey showed the passive smoking ratio among the females was 57 percent, and even as high as 70 percent among professional women aged between 20 and 49.

"I have tabled a motion to the upcoming NPC session, suggesting the State Council formulate regulations on smoking ban in public places as early as possible," said Chen, in Beijing for the NPC that opens tomorrow.

Many cities, government departments, organizations and enterprises have adopted local or internal rules prohibiting smoking in public places.

A ban is only strictly observed by airline companies, which have forbidden smoking on domestic or international flights.

Smoking is unchecked in most public places, such as restaurants, cinemas, offices and train stations, despite conspicuous "no smoking" signs.

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2006)