XN000022-1986-03-19 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1986

TOBACCO AD BAN JUST A TRADE RESTRICTION

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THE RECOMMENDED BAN ON TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENT SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS AN INFRINGEMENT OF LIBERTY BUT AS A TRADE RESTRICTION ON A DANGEROUS AND ADDICTIVE CONSUMER PRODUCT, DR THE HON CHIU HIN-KWONG SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD REPORT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MEDICAL FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY, DR CHIU SAID HE SPOKE FOR A NUMBER OF MEDICAL BODIES AND INDIVIDUALS AND THEY WERE IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF TOBACCO.

HE SAID THEY HAD FOUND IT NECESSARY TO INTRODUCE A TOTAL BAN ON THE ADVERTISEMENTS OF ALL TOBACCO PRODUCTS NOT ONLY ON THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA BUT ALSO ON ALL MEDIA FOR THE HEALTH OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE.

DR CHIU SAID IT WAS MOST UNFORTUNATE THE BAN HAD BEEN LINKED WITH FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

HE SAID HE CONSIDERED THE BAN WAS JUST ANOTHER MEASURE TO COORDINATE WITH GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-SMOKING POLICY AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH AN INTERFERENCE OF LIBERTY.

HE POINTED OUT THAT COUNTRIES WITH THE GREATEST FREEDOM TO EXPRESS ONE'S FEELINGS, SUCH AS THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND WEST GERMANY, HAD BANNED TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENTS FOR 20 YEARS.

AS FOR THE ARGUMENT THAT TOBACCO WAS A LEGAL PRODUCT AND THAT ANY ACTION TO ELIMINATE ITS ADVERTISEMENT WAS NOT RECOMMENDABLE, DR CHIU SAID THAT CERTAIN LEGAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, SUCH AS PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS, MATCH-MAKING AGENCIES, FORTUNE-TELLERS, UNDERTAKERS AND EVEN DOCTORS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ADVERTISE ON TELEVISION.

STRESSING THAT TOTAL BAN OF TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENT WAS ALREADY A UNIVERSAL TREND. HE SAID THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BRD WAS HEADING FOR THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO FULFIL ITS RESPONSIBILITIES OF SAFEGUARDING THE HEALTH OF ITS PEOPLE.

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