XN000022-1986-11-12 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986

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STRICT CONTROL NEEDED IN PUBLIC INTEREST

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS HAVE AGREED THAT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST HONG KONG SHOULD EXERCISE STRICT CONTROL OVER SMOKELESS TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1986 DURING ITS SECOND READING IN THE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), DR THE HON CHIU HIN-KWONG SAID COUNCILLORS BELIEVED HEALTH RISKS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH SMOKELESS TOBACCO.

DR CHIU POINTED OUT THAT THE BILL AIMED AT ENABLING REGULATIONS TO BE MADE BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO PROHIBIT THE IMPORTATION, MANUFACTURE, SALE, OFFERING OR POSSESSION FOR SALE OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

AS THE CONVENER OF A LEGCO AD HOC GROUP WHICH STUDIED THE BILL, DR CHIU SAID IN DECIDING ON WHAT KIND OF CONTROL SHOULD BE ADOPTED, THOUGHTS HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE FOLLOWING THREE OPTIONS:

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A VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT WITH THE TOBACCO COMPANIES TO RESTRICT THE PROMOTION OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO PRODUCTS SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE TARGETTED AT YOUNG PEOPLE;

BY REQUIRING THE PLACEMENT OF HEALTH WARNING LABELS ON THE SMOKELESS TOBACCO PACKAGE WHICH WARNED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PRODUCT MIGHT CAUSE ORAL CANCER, GUM DISEASE AND LOOSENING OF TEETH; AND

TO IMPOSE A TOTAL BAN ON THE IMPORTATION, MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF SUCH PRODUCTS.

AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, THE AD HOC GROUP DECIDED THAT THE MOST SERVERE MEASURE WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH SHOULD BE THE OVER-RIDING CONCERN, AND THAT THE MOST CAUTIOUS ATTITUDE SHOULD BE ADOPTED IN DEALING WITH MATTERS OF THIS NATURE, HE SAID.

DR CHIU ADDED THAT THE GROUP HAD CONSIDERED REPRESENTATIONS AGAINST THE BILL MADE BY AN AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY AND THEIR VIEWS AND SUBMISSIONS WERE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BILL AT TWO LEGCO IN-HOUSE MEETINGS.

LASTLY, DR CHIU POINTED OUT THAT THE BILL, ONCE ENACTED, WOULD BE APPLICABLE TO ALL BRANDS OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO PRODUCTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR MANUFACTURER OR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.

/ALLO SPEAKING