XN000022-1987-07-08 — Page 67

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1987

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ANTI-SMOKING COUNCIL A FOCAL POINT FOR ACTION

THE HONG KONG COUNCIL ON SMOKING AND HEALTH BILL 1987 SEEKS ΤΟ PROPOSE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY COUNCIL ON SMOKING AND HEALTH, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE BILL FOR SECOND READING, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-SMOKING POLICIES HAD ACHIEVED A CONSIDERABLE DEGREE OF SUCCESS IN MAKING THE COMMUNITY AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF SMOKING, IN ENCOURAGING SMOKERS TO STOP SMOKING AND IN DISCOURAGING NON-SMOKERS FROM STARTING TO SMOKE.

"WE REALISE THAT SMOKING AND HEALTH IS A DYNAMIC AREA WHICH REQUIRES PROMPT AND CONTINUOUS RESPONSES TO NEW RESEARCH, CHANGING PUBLIC ATTITUDES, NEW LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY.

"EXPERIENCE IN OTHER COUNTRIES INDICATES THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD OF KEEPING ABREAST OF SUCH DEVELOPMENTS IS TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT PUBLIC BODY TO SERVE AS A FOCAL POINT FOR ACTION THIS SUBJECT, MR CHAMBERS SAID.

THE MAIN TASKS OF THE COUNCIL WOULD BE:

(A)

ON

TO COLLATE THE LATEST INFORMATION AND RESEARCH CONNECTED WITH SMOKING AND HEALTH;

(B)

ΤΟ ORGANISE

PROGRAMMES ;

ANTI-SMOKING

PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION

(C)

(D)

ΤΟ ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF ANTI-SMOKING MEASURES; AND

ΤΟ LIAISE WITH OTHER LOCAL BODIES AND INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES ON SMOKING AND HEALTH MATTERS.

THE COUNCIL HAD BEEN OPERATING IN A PROVISIONAL FORM SINCE DECEMBER LAST YEAR.

MR CHAMBES SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'A VIEW, HOWEVER, THAT STATUTORY IN-CORPORATION WAS DESIRABLE IN THAT IT ESTABLISHED THE COUNCIL AS A LEGAL ENTITY SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT, PROVIDED A FORMAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE COUNCIL'S OPERATIONS AND CONFERRED PROTECTION ON MEMBERS AND EMPLOYERS OF THE COUNCIL AGAINST PERSONAL LIABILITY FOR ANY ACT DONE BY THE COUNCIL. IN GOOD FAITH IN THE COURSE OF ITS OPERATIONS.

THE BILL FOLLOWED CLOSELY THE PATTERN OF OTHER LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING STATUTORY BODIES OF A SIMILAR NATURË, HE SAID.

/IT SETS