XN000022-1984-02-15 — Page 29

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1984

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ARE YOU FORCING OTHERS TO SMOKE?

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SMOKERS CAUSE BOTH DISCOMFORT AND HEALTH HAZARDS TO NON-SMOKERS,

THAT IS THE MESSAGE OF A NEW PHASE OF THE ANTI-SMOKING PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN WHICH STARTS TOMORROW (THURSDAY).

SMOKERS HAVE BEEN MADE FULLY AWARE OF THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON THEMSELVES, BUT NOT MANY ARE AWARE OF THE HARM THE IR SMOKING DOES TO OTHERS.

THE DANGERS OF +PASSIVE SMOKING THAT IS THE INHALING OF TOBACCO SMOKE BY NON-SMOKERS - ARE CONSIDERABLE, ACCORDING TO THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

THE EFFECTS ON NON-SMOKERS COULD RANGE FROM NOSE, THROAT AND EYE IRRITATIONS AND PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT, TO LUNG DAMAGE OR EVEN FATAL LUNG CANCER, DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF TOBACCO SMOKE INHALED, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH.

MEDICAL RESEARCH HAS PROVED THAT NICOTINE AND A RAISED LEVEL OF CARBON MONOXIDE CAN BE DETECTED IN THE BODIES OF NON-SMOKERS WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO TOBACCO SMOKE IN A POORLY VENTILATED AREA, AND THE LONGER THE PERIOD OF EXPOSURE THE GREATER THE AMOUNT.

YOUNG CHILDREN, ARE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO HARM FROM PASSIVE SMOKING. FÖR INSTANCE, CHILDREN OF SMOKING PARENTS ARE FOUND TO HAVE MORE CHEST AND RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS THAN THOSE OF NON-SMOKING PARENTS.

TO ILLUSTRATE THIS UNHEALTHY AND UNPLEASANT ASPECT OF +PASSIVE SMOKING+, A SPECIAL POSTER HAS BEEN PRODUCED, AND IT WILL APPEAR ON GOVERNMENT POSTER SITES FROM TOMORROW.

ALSO STARTING TOMORROW, A NEW 30-SECOND FILM WILL BE SCREENED ON THE CHINESE AND ENGLISH CHANNELS OF BOTH TELEVISION STATIONS. THE FILM ILLUSTRATES THE SOCIAL UNACCEPTABILITY OF SMOKING AND AIMS TO PERSUADE PEOPLE NOT TO SMOKE IN THE PRESENCE OF NON-SMOKERS, OR BETTER STILL, TO STOP SMOKING ALTOGETHER.

ANYONE WHO WISHES TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF PASSIVE SMOKING CAN OBTAIN A FACT-SHEET ON THE SUBJECT FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES MARKETING SECTION AT 2/F, BASKERVILLE HOUSE, CENTRAL; THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT AT 181, GLOUCESTER ROAD, 2/F, CENTRE POINT, WAN CHAI, OR THE SHA TIN HEALTH EDUCATION CENTRE, AT 2/F, SHA TIN LEK YUEN HEALTH CENTRE.

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