(ECNS) -- China, the world's biggest tobacco market, has been toughening up its anti-smoking efforts recently, though it still faces strong resistance, especially from company managers and governmental officials, West China Metropolis Daily reported.
The newspaper, based in southwest China's Sichuan province, conducted a survey in the provincial capital Chengdu, finding 65 percent choose to keep quiet while their leaders smoke in the office.
Some 80 percent of respondents said they are affected by smokers, but barely 6 percent said they would try to stop them if smokers are their supervisors.
According to the survey around half believe worker unions or similar organizations should be responsible for making smokers in senior positions put out their cigarettes.
Thirty percent expect smokers to use self-discipline, and 20 percent support a reporting system.
One Chengdu resident said he didn't know what to say if his leader smoked while talking with him about work issues.
A 45-year-old woman working in a private company said six of her 10 colleagues smoked in a shared office, while the only thing she could do was cough as a form of protest.
The woman said her coworkers don't want to embarrass each other, and tend not to stop each other smoking in order to save face.
