XN000022-1987-06-26 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1987

COUNCIL ON SMOKING AND HEALTH PROPOSED

THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED TO ESTABLISH A HONG KONG COUNCIL ON SMOKING AND HEALTH (COSH)

A NON-GOVERNMENT ANTI-SMOKING BODY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROPOSING AND UNDERTAKING MEASURES ΤΟ COUNTER THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF TOBACCO USE IN HONG KONG.

THE HONG KONG COUNCIL ON SMOKING AND HEALTH BILL 1987 PROVIDING FOR STATUTORY INCORPORATION OF THE COUNCIL WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED COSH, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, EXPLAINED THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD BE FUNDED MAINLY BY GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION AND EMPOWERED TO EMPLOY ITS OWN STAFF. THE ANNUAL RECURRENT COST 15 ESTIMATED AT $1.1 MILLION PER ANNUM.

"ALTHOUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNCIL WOULD RELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT OF SOME OF THE EXECUTIVE DUTIES CONNECTED WITH ANTI-SMOKING MEASURES, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE WOULD REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR FORMULATING GOVERNMENT'S POLICY

COMBAT SMOKING AND FOR ENSURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT POLICY WHEN APPROVED.

סין

"IT IS ENVISAGED THAT (LOSE CO-OPERATION WILL BE ESSENTIAL BETWEEN THE COUNCIL, SECRETARIAT BRANCHES AND VARIOUS OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS,' MR CHAMBERS SAID.

THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF THE PROPOSED COSH WOULD BE:

(A)

(B)

(C)

ΤΟ OBTAIN AND COLLATE THE LATEST DATA AND RESEARCH INFORMATION CONNECTED WITH SMOKING AND HEALTH;

TO SERVE AS AN INFORMATION BANK ON SMOKING AND HEALTH MATTERS FOR THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, INDUSTRY, THE PRESS, THE BROADCASTING SERVICES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC:

ΤΟ DEVELOP AND ORGANISE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES:

PUBLICITY,

INFORMATION AND

(D)

то TAKE THE INITIATIVE

IN

RESEARCH, INCLUDING THE

EVALUATION OF

OF THE

EFFECT, OF

ANTI-SMOKING ACTIVITIES

ALREADY IN OPERATION;

(E)

TO SERVE AS CONSULTANT AND ADVISER TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MEASURES, INCLUDING LEGISLATION;

ANTI-SMOKING

/(F) TO ACHIEVE