XN000022-1983-02-02 — Page 13

11

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1983

ANTI-SMOKING EFFORT STEPPED UP

*****

ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO STEP UP THE ANTI-SMOKING EFFORT, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ERIC HO, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR HO WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LYDIA DUNN ON THE PROGRESS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-SMOKING PROGRAMME SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE SMOKING (PUBLIC HEALTH) ORDINANCE LAST JULY.

ADMINISTRATIVELY, NO-SMOKING AREAS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED IN HOSPITALS, CLINICS, SCHOOLS AND IN FOOD BUSINESS PREMISES, MR HO REPORTED.

INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED, PROHIBITING SMOKING IN WARDS, TREATMENT ROOMS AND PUBLIC AREAS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS, IN ADDITION TO SUCH AREAS AS OPERATING THEATRES WHERE SMOKING HAS LONG BEEN PROHIBITED.

SUBVENTED AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN URGED TO DO THE SAME. ALL GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO BAN SMOKING IN SCHOOL HALLS, CLASSROOMS, PLAYGROUNDS, LIBRARIES AND OTHER PREMISES WHERE STUDENTS ARE PRESENT, MR HO SAID.

ALL LICENSEES OF FOOD BUSINESS HAVE BEEN URGED TO ESTABLISH NO-SMOKING AREAS IN THEIR PREMISES ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS AND TO DISPLAY 'NO-SMOKING' SIGNS IN FOOD PREPARATION AREAS, SUCH AS KITCHENS, WHERE SMOKING IS ALREADY PROHIBITED BY LAW, MR HO REPORTED.

IN GOVERNMENT PREMISES, SMOKING HAS BEEN BANNED IN ALL LIFTS AND PUBLIC WAITING AREAS AND CIGARETTE ADVERTISEMENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON PREMISES UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL.

ALL PRINTED, TELEVISION, RADIO AND CINEMA ADVERTISEMENTS ON CIGARETTES ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY A HEALTH WARNING AND TAR GROUP RATING, MR HO SAID.

THE NEXT STAGE OF THE ANTI-SMOKING LEGISLATION WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ON FEBRUARY 15 WHEN SMOKING WILL BE PROHIBITED IN PUBLIC LIFTS, SINGLE DECKER ROAD PUBLIC TRANSPORT (EXCEPT TAXIS AND HIRED CARS), AND LOWER DECKS OF DOUBLE DECKER BUSES AND TRAMS, HE SAID.

NO-SMOKING AREAS WILL ALSO BE DESIGNATED IN AT LEAST 50 PER CENT OF EACH CLASS OF SEATING ACCOMMODATION IN FERRIES, TRAINS, CINEMAS, CONCERT HALLS AND THEATRES.

ON THE SAME DAY, MOST OTHER TYPES OF CIGARETTE ADVERTISEMENTS, BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR, WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO CARRY THE GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING.

THIS STATUTORY REQUIREMENT WILL BE EXTENDED TO CIGARETTE ADVERTISEMENTS BY NEON SIGNS FROM MAY 15, 1983.

FROM AUGUST ..................