WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1994
10
LAW TO DISCOURAGE SMOKING
**
THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS IN ITS CONTINUED EFFORT TO DISCOURAGE THE PUBLIC FROM SMOKING.
WELFARE,
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE SMOKING (PUBLIC HEALTH)
BILL
1994,
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND
MRS
WONG,
SAID THEY REPRESENTED A STEP FORWARD IN THE PROGRESSIVE APPROACH TOWARDS PROMOTING A HEALTHY
(AMENDMENT) ELIZABETH GOVERNMENT'S COMMUNITY.
THE BILL PROPOSED TO REQUIRE THE MANAGER OF A RESTAURANT PLACE A SIGN IN A PROMINENT LOCATION IN, AND VISIBLE FROM OUTSIDE, RESTAURANT INDICATING WHETHER IT PROVIDES A NO-SMOKING AREA.
TO
THE
"THE PURPOSE IS TO ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE OF WHICH DINING PLACE TO PATRONISE," MRS WONG SAID.
"WE RECOGNISE THAT SOME RESTAURANTS MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN
SETTING ASIDE A NO-SMOKING AREA, DUE BITHER TO DESIGN CONSTRAINTS OR CUSTOMERS' PREFERENCE. WE THEREFORE LEAVE THE CHOICE TO THEM, EXPLAINED.
THE SECOND PROPOSAL
AND ADVERTISING REQUIREMENT TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
TT
SHE
EXTENDS THE EXISTING HEALTH WARNING
RESTRICTIONS ON
то CIGARETTES
OTHER
"THIS IS TO ADVISE THEIR USERS THAT SMOKING THESE TOBACCO PRODUCTS IS ALSO HAZARDOUS, THE SECRETARY SAID.
་་
A
THE THIRD PROPOSAL PROHIBITS THE SALE AND GIVING, AS PART OF PROMOTIONAL EXERCISE, OF ANY TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
SUPPORT TO
THIS MEASURE AND GIVING BACKING ΤΟ RETAILERS TO REFUSE SALE TO MINORS, A FOURTH PROPOSAL REQUIRES TOBACCO RETAILERS TO PUT
IS UP A SIGN STATING THAT SELLING TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO MINORS PROHIBITED.
THIS WILL ENSURE THAT MINORS ARE MADE FULLY AWARE OF THE LAW AND THEY SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO BUY TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
RETAILERS CAN ASK FOR AGE IDENTIFICATION IF THEY ARE IN DOUBT AS TO THE PURCHASER'S AGE.
"PREVENTING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM SMOKING IS THE CENTRAL THEME OF THE OUR ANTI-SMOKING POLICY SINCE SMOKING ALMOST ALWAYS STARTS DURING TEENAGE YEARS, MRS WONG SAID.
SHE CONCEDED THAT LEGISLATION ALONE WOULD NOT ACHIEVE PURPOSE OF DISCOURAGING SMOKING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE
"COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE BILL AND THE FULL BACKING OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD BE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT, SHE SAID.
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