XN000022-1989-03-22 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1989

CONSULTATION ON ANTI-SMOKING RECOMMENDATIONS BEGINS

THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH TODAY (WEDNESDAY) RELEASED A CONSULTATION PAPER ON A PACKAGE OF RECOMMENDATIONS SUBMITTED BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL ON SMOKING AND HEALTH (COSH) TO RESTRICT THE USE,

SALE AND ADVERTISEMENT OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

THE PUBLIC WILL BE CONSULTED ON THESE DISTRICT BOARDS DURING THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.

THE

GOVERNMENT'S

THE PAPER OUTLINES SUMMARISES THE COUNCIL'S 24 RECOMMENDATIONS:

PROPOSALS THROUGH THE

POLICY ON SMOKING AND

(A) TO EXTEND NO-SMOKING AREAS IN PERFORMANCE VENUES, GOVERNMENT PREMISES AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT VEHICLES; AND, ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS, TO ENCOURAGE THE SETTING UP OF NO-SMOKING AREAS IN RESTAURANTS (RECOMMENDATIONS 1 TO 7};

(B) TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF HEALTH WARNINGS ON CIGARETTE PACKETS AND TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENTS; TO PROVIDE FOR MORE SPECIFIC WARNINGS; AND TO ENSURE THE VISIBILITY OF THE WARNINGS ON TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENTS {RECOMMENDATIONS 8 TO 10);

(C)

(D)

(E)

TO RESTRICT THE TAR AND NICOTINE CONTENT OF CIGARETTES AND TO REWRITE THE EXISTING TAR GROUP DESIGNATIONS (RECOMMENDATIONS 11 AND 12);

TO PROHIBIT THE SALE OF CIGARETTES TO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 (RECOMMENDATION 13);

TO BAN ALL FORMS OF TOBACCO ADVERTISING AS A LONG TERM GOAL AND TO RESTRICT THEIR MEANTIME (RECOMMENDATIONS 14 TO 22); AND

(F) TO INCREASE THE TAX ON TOBACCO

23 AND 24).

PRODUCTS

AND SPONSORSHIP EXTENT IN THE

(RECOMMENDATIONS

COSH IS A STATUTORY BODY ESTABLISHED IN 1987. PART OF ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE IS TO SERVE AS AN ADVISOR TO GOVERNMENT ON MATTERS RELATED TO TOBACCO AND HEALTH. THE ABOVE RECOMMENDATIONS REPRESENT ONE OF ITS INITIAL TASKS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH SAID: "ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO A POLICY OF DISCOURAGING SMOKING IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC HEALTH, IT HAS NOT YET MADE ANY DECISION ON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WISHES ΤΟ SOLICIT PUBLIC VIEWS BEFORE DECIDING ON FURTHER ACTION."

MISSION

INTERESTED PARTIES MAY OBTAIN A FREE COPY OF THE CONSULTATION PAPER AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES SECTION AT FRENCH BUILDING, BATTERY PATH, CENTRAL.

/THEY MAY