The man, identified only as Wong, told reporters that neither he, his wife, daughter nor son smoked.

When in October 2002 his wife suffered from respiratory problems, they went to the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, thinking she was suffering from flu.

The family was shocked when doctors said she had lung cancer.

Wong said his wife worked as an office secretary in a big corporation in which one of her bosses was a heavy smoker.

He said he had considered suing her employer but was advised that it would be difficult to prove she developed cancer as a result of smoking in the workplace.

``It is hard to describe her suffering in words,'' Wong said. ``When her condition was discovered, the cancer was already too advanced. Consequently there was little we could do.

``The pain she suffered in the last 15 months of her life was unbearable and there were times when she wanted to kill herself but was too weak to do so.''

He said his 45-year-old wife eventually passed away on January 1, 2004. Wong, who is a businessman, said that not only were he and his wife victims of this tragedy, but also his daughter and son.

He said his 19-year-old daughter's academic performance suffered as a result of his wife's sickness and his 13-year-old son had to seek psychiatric help.

``I know it's not kind but when I see people smoking on the streets today, I feel like cursing them,'' he said. dennis.ng@globalchina.com