日本烟客

Bad news for smokers

Japan's Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa has resisted that call. But he had bad news for Japanese smokers on Friday.

He confirmed a local newspaper report that the government was considering hiking the cigarette tax in fiscal 2002.

"There is a movement toward discouraging smoking, so I don't think the public will be opposed to a tax hike on cigarettes," he said at a press conference. "I think they will accept it."

Raising taxes on cigarettes would bring in more revenue without the government having to sell more government bonds.

[今日CNN听抄音频时间：1分12秒]日本正加大对吸烟的打击力度。为了劝阻吸烟族，东京提高了烟价并在香烟包装上附上醒目的警告语。这一举措给烟草专营商——日本烟草公司带来了突然的打击。但这个公司想出了富有创意的办法取悦吸烟族，并让他们继续吞云吐雾。