XN000022-1976-01-23 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1976.

DRIVING HOME THE ANTI-SMOKING MESSAGE

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THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN STEPS TO REINFORCE ITS PROGRAMME FOR EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE DANGERS OF SMOKING.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THIS EXPANDED PROGRAMME WAS IN KEEPING WITH THE RECENT EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECISION TO GIVE EDUCATION FIRST PRIORITY IN COMBATTING THE SMOKING PROBLEM.

+THIS SUBJECT HAS ALREADY BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL SYLLABUS, AND WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING OTHER MEASURES TO DRIVE THE MESSAGE HOME,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN.

HE RECALLED THAT THE REPORT OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON CIGARETTE SMOKING HAD RECOMMENDED THAT THE GREATEST EMPHASIS SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE NEED TO DETER YOUNG PEOPLE FROM SMOKING.

JUDGING FROM THE RESULTS OF AN OPINION SURVEY WHICH FOLLOWED PUBLICATION OF THE REPORT, THIS VIEW WAS STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

ANOTHER PROPOSAL RECOMMENDED BY THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, ENDORSED BY THE PUBLIC AND APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WAS CONCERNED WITH SMOKING IN ENCLOSED PUBLIC AREAS AND IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

PERSUASIVE MEASURES TO REDUCE THIS NUISANCE WERE NOW BEING EXAMINED.

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO BE SEEKING THE CO-OPERATION OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY IN DRAWING UP A VOLUNTARY CODE OF ADVERTISING PRACTICE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

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