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Statement to refute criticisms by Tobacco Institute
The following is a statement issued by the Health and Welfare Branch to refute the Tobacco Institute of Hong Kong Ltd.'s criticisms against the Government's proposed ban on tobacco advertising:
"It has been Government's declared policy to discourage smoking since 1975. In 1982, the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap 371) was enacted to introduce various measures to control the use, sale and promotion of tobacco products.
"The Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance is reviewed regularly, having regard to changing world trends and local public views. In order to support the World Health Organisation's call for a "Tobacco-advertising-free Region by the Year 2000', we propose to introduce further anti-smoking legislation to prohibit:
direct advertising in printed media and display advertisements; and
indirect advertising through the use of tobacco brand-names on non- tobacco products.
"These proposals are the second part of a package of measures on which the public and the industry were consulted in 1992. We are consulting the industry again now. The industry's claim that the legislation is being pushed through rapidly and without consultation is untrue.
"According to the World Health Organisation, smoking is now the world's number one killer and the single largest preventable cause of death. It has been found to be a major cause of heart disease and lung cancer - the two main causes of death in the developed world.
"Recent researches showed that the children's positive attitudes to smoking of cigarette were strongly associated with their perceived attractiveness advertisements.
"Subject to the Bill being ready, it will be submitted to ExCo in November and introduced into LegCo in December 1995.
"Hong Kong is fortunate to enjoy a low incidence of smoking. We have less illness and death from smoking than many other countries. The proposed legislation aims to ensure that it stays that way. It is both appropriate and necessary to protect the community from the harmful effects of smoking."
End/Wednesday, September 20, 1995