XN000022-1989-11-08 — Page 44

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1989

HE SAID THE

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APPOINTMENT OF THE COMMITTEE'S OTHER MEMBERS. A BALANCED REPRESENTATION FROM VARIOUS MEDICAL SPECIALTIES. WOULD BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY.

WHICH WOULD HAVE

"NO DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN ON THE CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION OF THE STATUS OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIALITIES IN THE FUTURE ACADEMY,

"WE SHALL WELCOME THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS

THE ON THIS AS WELL AS OTHER MATTERS CONCERNING

COMPOSITION OF THE ACADEMY." HE SAID.

YOUTH PROJECT TO DISCOURAGE SMOKING * * * * *

OF THE IMPORTANCE OF OF THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF

THE HON T.H. CHAU.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT LOST SIGHT GENERATING AN INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS SMOKING. THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE. TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WEDNESDAY).

MR CHAU SAID A LARGE-SCALE YOUTH PROJECT ON THE THEME OF 'A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE WITHOUT TOBACCO" WOULD SOON BE LAUNCHED BY THE COUNCIL ON SMOKING AND HEALTH.

HE NOTED THAT GIVEN THE INDISPUTABLE HEALTH HAZARDS OF SMOKING, IT WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT EFFECTIVE MEASURES WERE TAKEN TO DISCOURAGE SMOKING, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.

"BY SPONSORING SPORTS EVENTS. THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY IS ABLE TO ASSOCIATE ITS PRODUCTS WITH A HEALTHY. OUTDOOR SPORTING IMAGE WHICH HAS AN APPEAL AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.

"THIS COMPROMISES OUR EFFORTS TO LIMIT EXPOSURE OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO PERSUASION TO SMOKE." HE SAID.

MR CHAU SAID HE APPRECIATED THE UNDERSTANDABLE CONCERN THAT THE BANNING OF TOBACCO SPONSORSHIP WOULD 11AMPER THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS AND ARTS IN HONG KONG, ADDING THAT THIS CONCERN WAS CLEARLY REFLECTED DURING THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION CONDUCTED EARLIER THIS YEAR ON THE VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS PUT FORWARD BY THE COUNCIL ON SMOKING AND HEALTH.

"I CAN ASSURE MEMBERS THAT, IN REACHING DECISIONS ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE SENSITIVE TO THE PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS." HE SAID.

TURNING TO THE UNDESIRABLE MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENTS ORDINANCE WHICH WAS AMENDED LAST YEAR TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF PENALTIES AND TO OVERCOME CERTAIN ENFORCEMENT PROBLEMS, MR CHAU SAID SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE AMENDED ORDINANCE. THE PUBLICATION OF UNDESIRABLE MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENTS HAD BEEN MONITORED CLOSELY BY THE OF HEALTH.

DEPARTMENT

/"SOME 5,700