Philip Morris, one of the world largest tobacco enterprises, has launched an anti-youth-smoking campaign in Macao, local media reported Tuesday.

The Macao Post Daily quoted Rebecca Ng, a branch manager of the company, as saying that Philip Morris Monday started the publicity drive, entitled "Under-18, No Tobacco," at the Landmark Hotel here.

The campaign was aimed to urge local retailers to abide by the laws, which prohibit the selling of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18, the manager told the newspaper.

"The company is completely against children smoking," the manager was quoted as saying.

Under Macao's laws, all local retailers are required to post a government warning that selling cigarettes to teenagers is illegal.

There are currently 1,500 retail outlets of tobacco products in Macao, a region with a population of over 480,000, according to official statistics.

Philip Morris, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, is selling tobacco products to over 160 countries and regions.

(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2005)