XN000022-1979-01-10 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1979

MORE RESTRICTIVE APPROACH ON CIGARETTE COMMERCIALS

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THE TELEVISION AUTHORITY INTENDS TO ADOPT A MORE RESTRICTIVE INTERPRETATION OF ITS CODES OF PRACTICE IN RESPECT OF CIGARETTE ADVERTISING AS PART OF THE MEASURES TO DISCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM SMOKING,

THIS WAS REVEALED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. E. P. HO, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR. HO SAID IN THE LIGHT OF THE MORE RESTRICTIVE APPROACH TO BE ADOPTED, A NUMBER OF CURRENT CIGARETTE COMMERCIALS WOULD BE REVIEWED.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT APART FROM A VOLUNTARY CODE OF ADVERTISING PRACTICE BY THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY, A NUMBER OF MEASURES HAD ALSÓ BEEN TAKEN TO DISCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM SMOKING.

THESE INCLUDE THE INCLUSION OF THE SUBJECT OF SMOKING AND HEALTH IN THE HEALTH SOCIAL STUDIES AND BIOLOGY CURRICULUM FOR STUDENTS IN PRIMARY 6 AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS- THE SHOWING OF EDUCATIONAL TV FILMS ON ANTI-SMOKING- A COMPETITION FOR THE BEST ANTI-SMOKING TEACHING KIT PREPARED BY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, AND AN EXHIBITION ON THE DANGERS OF SMOKING AND DRINKING LAST SEPTEMBER.

MR. HO SAID THE COMPETITION ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT WAS USEFUL IN EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF SMOKING AND THE EXHIBITION WAS ARRANGED BY STUDENTS AND THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

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