Hong Kong 2006

To further protect the public from the hazards of second-hand smoking, the Government introduced the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2005 into the Legislative Council to expand statutory no-smoking areas to all indoor workplaces and public places, to strengthen the regulation on advertisement, promotion, packaging and labelling of tobacco products, as well as to strengthen our law enforcement efforts. The amendment bill was passed by the Legislative Council on October 19, 2006 and gazetted on October 27, 2006. The Amendment Bill has significantly enhanced the tobacco control regime in Hong Kong and its compliance with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) of which China is a signatory and which therefore applies to Hong Kong. With effect from January 1, 2007, statutory no-smoking areas will include indoor workplaces, indoor areas of restaurant premises, bars open to all age groups, karaoke establishments and other indoor public places, indoor and outdoor areas of child care centres, schools, hospitals, escalators, parks, swimming pools and beaches.

To coordinate the Government's tobacco control efforts, enforce the relevant anti-smoking legislation and promote a smoke-free culture in Hong Kong, the Tobacco Control Office was set up in 2001 under the Department of Health to foster inter-sectoral collaboration and community participation.

Recognising the complexity of tobacco control issues, the office has adopted a multi-pronged approach to achieve its goals. One of the priority areas is to assist managers and staff working in statutory no-smoking areas to comply with and enforce the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance. In 2006, the Tobacco Control Office organised over 150 workshops for more than 6 500 staff responsible for management of venue involving statutory no-smoking areas, including the catering industry and other sectors. In addition, officers of the Tobacco Control Office visited over 170 restaurants and 230 shopping malls to explain the legal requirements of no-smoking areas to managers of these premises. Furthermore, more than 80 smoke-free workplace workshops were conducted for over 2 000 managers and other staff members of workplaces.

Since 27 October 2006, inspectors of the Tobacco Control Office have been empowered to take enforcement actions under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance. Up to the end of 2006, the office had issued 13 summonses to people who contravened the ban on smoking in statutory no smoking areas.

Apart from the Department of Health, an independent body, called the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health was established under statute to acquire and disseminate information on the hazards of using tobacco products and to advise the Government on matters related to smoking, passive smoking and health.

During 2006, to coincide with the passage of the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Ordinance, the council conducted publicity and community involvement campaigns with particular emphasis on nurturing a smoke-free culture in public places and workplaces.

The council continued carrying out its health education programmes in schools. It gave 203 talks to primary and secondary schools and staged an interactive drama programme in 32 primary schools. In addition, the council launched a territory-wide publicity campaign called Smoke Free Hong Kong which included announcements in the public interest broadcast on TV and radio. The council has a website www.smokefree.hk as well as a hotline to receive enquiries and suggestions from the public on matters related to smoking and health.

Taxation is widely recognised as one of the most effective tobacco control measures especially among younger smokers. The Government currently imposes a duty on tobacco products amounting to $804 for each 1 000 cigarettes, or $16 for a pack of 20 cigarettes.

Recognising the importance of smoking cessation to a comprehensive tobacco control policy, smoking counselling and cessation services are offered to smokers and their family members by trained nurses and pharmacists at 16 full-time and 14 part-time smoking counselling and cessation centres in public hospitals and general out-patient clinics. Counselling and medications are offered to quitters in treating their tobacco dependence. A 'quit-line' telephone hotline has been set up to provide enquiry and appointment services.

During 2006, the number of enquiry and counselling cases handled at these centres amounted to 18 000 and the success quit rate as surveyed during one of the months was around 80 per cent. These centres also organised a number of support groups, health exhibitions and educational talks to further promote smoking cessation.