Macao's Health Bureau is to propose a 10-fold increase of tobacco tax in a bid to enhance the smoking control, local media reported Friday.

The Macao Post Daily quoted Chan Tan Mui, director of the bureau's Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Unit, as saying that the tobacco tax hike will involve the amendment of the existing tobacco control law.

"We will be promoting a smoke-free culture to gain public support for the legal changes," said the official.

The current tobacco tax rate stands at 0.50 pataca (0.0625 U.S.dollar) for each pack.

Source: Xinhua