WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1980
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ANTI-SMOK ING EDUCATION EFFORTS
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IT HAS BEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY THAT THE FIRST PRIORITY IN COMBATTING THE SMOKING PROBLEM SHOULD BE GIVEN TO EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY THE YOUNG, AS TO THE DANGERS OF SMOKING, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON ERIC HO SAID TODAY.
TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE, THE PUBLICITY EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM IMPACT WITHOUT STIMULATING A CURIOSITY IN SMOKING.
THIS REQUIRES A BALANCED PRESENTATION OF MEDICAL FACTS AND LONG-TERM EDUCATION TO CHANGE PUBLIC ATTITUDES RATHER THAN A ONE-OFF VIGOROUS MEDIA CAMPAIGN, HE SAID.
MR HO WAS REPLYING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO A QUESTION BY REV THE HON JOYCE BENNETT,
HE LISTED SOME OF THE EDUCATION EFFORTS.
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*SMOKING AND HEALTH' HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE HEALTH, SOCIAL STUDIES AND BIOLOGY CURRICULA FOR PRIMARY SIX STUDENTS AND IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS,
TEACHING KITS COMPLETE WITH SLIDES AND CASSETTES ARE BEING PROVIDED,
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ON THE THEME SMOKING AND HEALTH' ARE BEING ORGANISED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUBS,
AN EDUCATIONAL TV FILM IS ALSO AVAILABLE, AND
AN INTER-SCHOOL DRAMA COMPETITION AGAINST SMOKING WILL BE HELD IN JANUARY 1981.
AN EXHIBITION ON THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF SMOKING JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG ANTI-CANCER SOCIETY WAS HELD IN THE CITY HALL IN AUGUST THIS YEAR AND ATTRACTED 100 000 ATTENDANCES.
THE EXHIBITION WAS REPEATED LAST WEEK IN THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL AND IT IS INTENDED THAT THIS WILL BE SHOWN IN OTHER REGIONAL CENTRES AND SCHOOLS AS AND WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES, MR HO SAID.
OTHER PUBLICITY INCLUDES DISTRIBUTION OF POSTERS AND STICKERS DESIGNED BY THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES. AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC INTEREST (API) IS ALSO PERIODICALLY SHOWN ON THE TWO TELEVISION STATIONS IN THE TIME ALLOCATED TO GOVERNMENT, HE ADDED.
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