XN000022-1993-03-24 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1993

THE PROCESSING TIME MAY BE INCREASED BY TWO TO THREE MONTHS IN THE CASE OF A CONTESTED APPLICATION.

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HOWEVER, LONGER DELAYS OCCUR IN CASES WHERE A LIQUOR LICENCE APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED BUT CANNOT BE ISSUED PENDING RESTAURANT LICENCE, MR SZE SAID.

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PROMOTION OF ANTI-SMOKING ACTIVITIES AMONG YOUTH

EMPHASIS ON THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF SMOKING WILL BE PLACED ON MESSAGES TO YOUNG PEOPLE то DISCOURAGE THEM FROM STARTING THE HABIT, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HOWARD YOUNG, MRS WONG SAID AN ANTI-SMOKING TEACHING KIT WOULD BE PRODUCED FOR DISTRIBUTION то SCHOOLS AND A NUMBER OF YOUTH ACTIVITIES ARRANGED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

IN ADDITION, THE HONG KONG COUNCIL ON SMOKING AND HEALTH (COSH) HAS SENT LETTERS TO 500 SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND HAS ARRANGED TO TALKS TO 92 SCHOOLS, COVERING ABOUT 100,000 SECONDARY STUDENTS, ACADEMIC YEAR.

GIVE THIS

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AIMS TO COMPLETE VISITS TO ALL 500 SCHOOLS WITHIN THE

NEXT

18 MONTHS.

TO STRENGTHEN EFFORTS IN EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, MRS WONG SAID COSH WOULD RECEIVE A SUBVENTION OF $3.79 MILLION IN 1993/94, AN INCREASE OF NEARLY 35 PER CENT COMPARED WITH $2.81 MILLION FOR 1992/93.

OF THIS SUM, $1.6 MILLION WILL BE SPENT ON PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, DOUBLE THE AMOUNT FOR 1992/93.

TURNING ΤΟ ENFORCEMENT AGAINST SMOKING IN DESIGNATED NON- SMOKING AREAS, MRS WONG SAID IT WAS PRIMARILY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANAGEMENTS OF THESE AREAS.

SHE SAID MANAGEMENTS WERE EMPOWERED UNDER THE SMOKING (PUBLIC HEALTH) ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE SMOKERS IN A DESIGNATED NO-SMOKING AREA TO DESIST.

THEY MAY ALSO REQUIRE THE OFFENDER TO LEAVE OR CALL FOR POLICE HELP IN ENFORCEMENT.

INDIVIDUALLY,

MRS WONG SAID: "MANAGEMENTS HAVE BEEN INFORMED IN WRITING, OF THE ENFORCEMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND OF THEIR POWERS UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

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"FEEDBACK INDICATES THAT THE POWERS GIVEN TO MANAGEMENTS ADEQUATE FOR THE PURPOSE AND IT IS SELDOM NECESSARY TO RESORT ΤΟ POLICE INTERVENTION OR PROSECUTION."

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