Ma urges smokers to quit

Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) encouraged smokers yesterday to join an upcoming "quit and win" contest and earn the chance to win NT$600,000 (US$17,200) in prize money. Ma said that he started smoking in his senior year of university but kicked the habit after being addicted to smoking for 13 years when he realized the irony involved in trying to avoid the exhausts from motor vehicles whenever he went jogging, even as he kept inhaling cigarette smoke voluntarily. A 92-year-old Taipei citizen who has been smoking for 70 years also announced his intention of giving up tobacco for the good of his health. Participants in the "quit and win" contest must sign up as a team at the Taipei City Government before Thursday, with each smoker paired with a nonsmoking friend whose task is to make sure the smoker does not light up during the contest period, from May 2 to May 29.