Hong Kong -
Nearly one-third of Hong Kong secondary school students are addicted to the internet and suffer withdrawal symptoms when they are unable to log on, according to a survey Wednesday.
Of 1 508 students interviewed by the city's Federation of Youth Groups, 474 said they considered themselves internet addicts and became anxious and irritable when they were unable to get online.
The survey found internet addiction more widespread than traditional teenage addictions such as gambling and smoking, admitted to by 12 and 4 percent of interviewees respectively.
Federation officials, who interviewed students aged 12 to 17, said 80 percent of cases in which parents sought their help to deal with addiction now related to excessive internet use.
Hong Kong has one of the world's highest levels of computer ownership and broadband use. Most secondary schools in the wealthy city of 7 million require students to use laptops in class. - Sapa-dpa