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anxiously waiting for any recommendations from the Anti-Cancer Society. When I have these recommendations I propose to put the whole question of smoking to the Health Education Select Committee for consideration.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- May I ask Dr. Woo, Mr. Chairman, whether his Committee is concerned about the health hazards of smoking?
DR. Woo:- Yes, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Has a request been made to the Anti-Cancer Society for its views, Mr. Chairman?
DR. Woo:- No Sir.
MR. FORSGATE:- Mr. Chairman, has Dr. Woo's committee considered the health hazard of not smoking, as reported in the paper quite recently? (Laughter).
DR. Woo:- No Sir. (Laughter).
MR. LI YIU-BOR:- Mr. Chairman, for a change, may I ask Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, through you, a question? In the United States there is a society known as the Alcoholics Anonymous. I don't know whether Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has in mind the forming in Hong Kong of an organization to be known as the T.A.A.---Tobacco Addicts Anonymous?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, that was a specialist question which I suggest he refer to Dr. Woo's committee. May I continue with my supplementary question? Since the Chairman of the Health Education Select Committee has stated that he is awaiting recommendations from the Anti-Cancer Society, would he be prepared to discuss with his Select Committee the desirability of approaching officially the Anti-Cancer Society for their views?
DR. WOO:- With your permission, Mr. Chairman, I have to elaborate on this rather lengthily. Mr. CHEONG-LEEN will probably remember that some months ago I asked a question in the Council, in which I requested Government to disclose what were the recommendations put forward by the two Medical Associations on smoking. Government has so far refused to give me the contents of the recommendations, so at the first meeting of my Committee, I raised the question again. But, as usual, I never got a satisfactory reply. What I was given was a pamphlet prepared by the Medical Department containing questions and answers, and I was told that there would be a departmental discussion on the whole subject, but so far I have no information of what exactly has happened. If Mr. CHEONG-LEEN wants to know about the pamphlet issued by the Medical Department I would be happy to let him have it.
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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, since this has to do with the Medical Department, may I, with your permission, direct this supplementary question to the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services? This paper was issued on the 29th April, 1965,—Paper 83/65. Has there been any action taken within the Medical Department in regard to the paper along the lines which have just been mentioned by Dr. Woo?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- I am afraid I can't answer that immediately. I went on leave shortly after this. I was away for six months, and I can't say what has happened about this.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- I appreciate that Mr. Chairman. Well, can the Vice-Chairman say at this meeting today what are Government's views and attitude in respect of this subject?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- Again, Sir, I can't say today what they are. I don't know what they are.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Could the Vice-Chairman then give an assurance now that he is back, that there will be a follow-up on what has been disclosed in the Paper to which Dr. Woo has referred, that there will be inter-departmental discussion on the subject, if that has not yet been done?
Sir.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- Certainly,
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Thank you very much.
DR. WOO:- Is it in order for me to ask a supplementary question? (Laughter). In April, 1965, it was stated that it was intended that the pamphlet should be distributed in both English and Chinese. May I ask Dr. COOMBES whether this has been done.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- May I see this paper? All I can say Mr. Chairman, if the pamphlet was distributed it was distributed in Chinese as well, and I honestly just do not know whether it was distributed. I presume it has been and, if so, it was certainly done in Chinese. I am not clear from this particular Paper who it was going to be distributed to. It was in collaboration with the Information Services Department, I can only find out and let you know.
DR. WOO:- I have not received a copy of the Chinese version.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- I am not sure to whom it was intended it should be distributed. Surely the
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