XN000022-1986-10-29 — Page 11

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986

+CLAUSE 2 OF THE BILL AMENDS THE DEFINITION OF FOOD IN THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE SMOKELESS TOBACCO PRODUCTS, THAT IS TOBACCO PRODUCTS WHICH ARE TAKEN ORALLY, BUT NOT INCLUDING DRY SNUFF TAKEN BY INHALATION.

+CLAUSE 3 WIDENS THE EXISTING POWER TO MAKE REGULATIONS PROHIBITING OR REGULATING THE IMPORTATION OF ANY FOOD OR DRUGS WHICH MAY BE PREJUDICIAL TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, TO INCLUDE PROHIBITING OR REGULATING THE MANUFACTURE, SALE, POSSESSION FOR SALE, OFFER OR EXPOSURE FOR SALE, OR CONSIGNMENT OR DELIVERY OF SUCH FOOD OR DRUGS,+ HE SAID.

IN ADDITION, A SMALL CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE DUTI ABLE COMMODITIES ORDINANCE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THAT ORDINANCE SHOULD NOT APPLY TO SMOKELESS TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

GIVING THE REASONS FOR THE PRESENT LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT RECENTLY A SPECIAL TYPE OF MOIST SNUFF HAD BEEN MARKETED SUCCESSFULLY IN A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THERE WAS INTENTION OF INTRODUCING A NEW MOIST TOBACCO PRODUCT CONTAINED IN SMALL SACHETS TO HONG KONG.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE UNITED STATES VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS AND MARKETING RESTRICTIONS HAD BEEN NEGOTIATED WITH THE MANUFACTURERS OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO PRODUCTS, BUT THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THESE ARRANGEMENTS HAD NOT ACHIEVED THE DESIRED EFFECT OF PREVENTING THE ADOPTION BY CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS OF THIS DANGEROUS HABIT.

+IN VIEW OF THE HIGH RISKS INVOLVED, AND THE FACT THAT AT PRESENT ONLY A VERY LIMITED QUANTITY OF MOIST TOBACCO PRODUCTS ARE SOLD IN HONG KONG, THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT IT HAS A DUTY TO STEP IN AND PREVENT THEIR WIDESPREAD USE HERE, HE SAID.

AS TO WHY THE GOVERNMENT WAS PROPOSING A BAN ON SMOKELESS TOBACCO WHILE CONTINUING TO ALLOW CIGARETTES AND OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO BE SOLD, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT IT WAS IMPRACTICAL TO TRY TO STOP BY LEGISLATIVE ACTION A HABIT WHICH, HOWEVER RISKY, WAS STILL PRACTISED BY ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE ADULT POPULATION.

+A SIMPLE ACTION TAKEN, ON THE BEST AND LATEST HEALTH ADVICE, TO STOP THE SPREAD OF A NEW AND HAZARDOUS HABIT, WHICH IS PARTICULARLY ADDICTIVE AND LIABLE TO BE TAKEN UP BY THE YOUNG, IS A DIFFERENT MATTER ALTOGETHER.+

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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