Shenzhen is seeing the lowest rates of illegal smoking since the city’s tobacco control regulations came into force in 2014, according to an appraisal report released by the Shenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control on Thursday.

The report is based on a city-wide survey that covers 19 categories of nonsmoking venues totaling 1,179 establishments across the city. The subjects of the questionnaire are 1,120 venue operators and 2,897 residents.

According to the survey, 89.1 percent of residents now strongly support the ban on smoking in indoor public places, the highest support rate in five years. However, 3.3 percent of the public are still against the ban.

In addition, 17.4 percent of residents are very satisfied with the results of smoking control in public places and 47.8 percent think the results are satisfactory, while 4.1 percent are dissatisfied with the results. The general satisfaction rate has increased from 49 percent in 2015 to 65.2 percent in 2018.

The report reveals that among the 1,179 nonsmoking establishments surveyed, the rate of instances of illegal smoking is at 20.2 percent, the lowest in the past five years. Meanwhile, 1,023 establishments have posted no-smoking signs, accounting for 86.8 percent of all surveyed.

Compared with 2017, illegal smoking has declined markedly in bars, dance halls and government agencies in 2018 by 34.3 percent, 30.8 percent and 47.1 percent, respectively.

The evaluation of 19 kinds of places shows that schools, medical institutions, government agencies and public transport places are considered to have the most satisfactory smoking control results, while bars, dance halls, Internet bars, entertainment arcades, leisure venues, restaurants and hotels are showing slower progress.

The report also points out that the awareness rate on the hazards of smoking among residents has been increasing, up from 53.8 percent in 2017 to 60 percent in 2018. The awareness rate on the hazards of second-hand smoking also rose from 50.6 percent in 2017 to 74.6 percent in 2018.

Compared with 2017, the numbers of smokers who cut down on smoking and who try to quit smoking also increased in 2018, according to the report.

Smokers who cut down on smoking are up from 15.5 percent to 20 percent, while those who try to quit smoking have grown from 14 percent to 17.7 percent. (Zhang Yu)