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In 1987, the government-funded Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health was established to inform the community about the health risks of smoking and to take the message into schools to prevent children from ever starting to smoke.
To set an exemplary role, the Government signed the Council's Smokefree Workplace Charter in 1995, and the smokefree workplace policy has been implemented in all Government offices since April.
Today, smoking is prohibited in all forms of public transport. Tobacco advertising is also prohibited on television, radio and in cinemas; and in media where it is still allowed, tobacco advertisements are required to carry a Government health warning.
"Despite past achievements, tobacco control is an area where there is no room for complacency. There is still a lot that needs to be done," said Mrs Fok.
She appealed to everyone, including sociologists, psychologists, medical researchers, educationists and legislators, to join hands to promote a "smokefree" culture in the society.
End
More Chinese proprietary medicine recalled
The Department of Health today (Thursday) urged members of the public to exercise special caution when purchasing or using Chinese proprietary medicine - Niu Huang Chieh Tu Pien - as four more brands of the product were found to contain arsenic at levels known to cause toxic effects.
The four brands which had to be recalled by the importers were:
Ding Lu Brand Refined and Powerful Niu Huang Jiedupian manufactured by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Factory Xiamen, China;
Great Bridge Brand Superior Quality Peking Niu Huang Chien Tu Pien, Peking Manufactory Hong Kong Mill Chuen Tong Producted;
King Dao Brand Refined Niu Huang Chieh Tu Pien produced by Peking Medicine Manufactory;