12
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1984
MORE CONTROL SOUGHT ON CIGARETTE ADS
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A LOCAL NEWSPAPER WITH 20 PER CENT OR LESS OF ITS TOTAL CIRCULATION IN HONG KONG WILL BE EXEMPTED FROM CARRYING A HEALTH WARNING FOR ITS CIGARETTE ADVERTISING ONLY IF THE LOCAL CIRCULATION DOES NOT EXCEED A CERTAIN LIMIT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS CONTAINED IN THE SMOKING (PUBLIC HEALTH) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING.
MR CHING TOLD THE COUNCIL IT WAS INTENDED THAT THE LIMIT WOULD BE SET INITIALLY AT 10 000 COPIES, EFFECTIVE THREE MONTHS AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL.
CIGARETTE ADVERTISEMENTS IN A LOCALLY PRINTED NEWSPAPER ARE AT PRESENT EXEMPTED FROM CARRYING A HEALTH WARNING IF 80 PER CENT OR MORE OF ITS CIRCULATION IS OUTSIDE HONG KONG,
+THIS EXEMPTION COULD UNFAIRLY FAVOUR PUBLICATIONS WITH A LARGE CIRCULATION. THE 20 PER CENT, OR LESS, OF THE TOTAL CIRCULATION WHICH REMAINS IN HONG KONG MAY WELL EXCEED THE TOTAL NUMBER OF COPIES OF A LOCAL PUBLICATION WHOSE CIRCULATION IS ENTIRELY IN HONG KONG AND WHOSE CIGARETTE ADVERTISEMENTS DO NOT THEREFORE QUALIFY FOR THE EXEMPTION,+.MR CHING SAID IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL.
TO REMOVE THIS ANOMALY THE BILL PROVIDES FOR AN ABSOLUTE NUMERICAL LIMIT TO BE SET BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL.
CIGARETTE ADVERTISEMENTS ON THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES OF A MANUFACTURER, DISTRIBUTOR OR WHOLESALE DEALER IN CIGARETTES OR CIGARETTE TOBACCO ARE CURRENTLY ENTIRELY EXEMPTED FROM CARRYING A HEALTH WARNING.
+THIS IS NOW THOUGHT TO BE UNJUSTIFIED, ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT ANY CIGARETTE ADVERTISEMENT DISPLAYED TO THE PUBLIC SHOULD CARRY A HEALTH WARNING, HE SAID.
THE BILL THUS SEEKS TO ABOLISH THIS EXEMPTION, EFFECTIVE SIX MONTHS AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL TO GIVE TIME FOR VEHICLES TO BE REPAINTED.
THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO REMOVE FROM THE ORDINANCE THE EXEMPTIONS WHICH AT PRESENT PERMIT ADVERTISEMENTS ON SMALL PORTABLE OBJECTS, CLOTHING AND UMBRELLAS, AND ON PREMISES OF A MANUFACTURER OR DEALER IN TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
MR CHING EXPLAINED THAT THESE EXEMPTIONS WOULD BE RE-INTRODUCED AS REGULATIONS TO FACILITATE FUTURE AMENDMENTS WHERE NECESSARY.
+BUT WHILE THE EXEMPTION IN RESPECT OF ADVERTISEMENTS ON SMALL PORTABLE OBJECTS, CLOTHING AND UMBRELLAS WILL BE RE-ENACTED IN REGULATIONS WITHOUT CHANGE, THE EXEMPTION IN RESPECT OF ADVERTISEMENTS ON THE PREMISES OF MANUFACTURERS OR DEALERS WILL BE RE-ENACTED WITH MODIFICATIONS, HE SAID.
/HE ADDED