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Apart from advertising, tobacco promotion can also take the form of giving cigarettes out as free samples, attaching free or discounted-price items to tobacco products or exchange of empty packages for gifts or entry to various events. We propose to ban all such forms of tobacco promotion.

Subject to the passage of the Bill, I will amend the Smoking (Public Health) (Notices) Order to provide for stronger and more prominent health warnings.

Government believes that with all these measures in place, the public's exposure to the tobacco industry's persuasion to smoke will be reduced. This will translate into reduced death and ill-health from smoking-related illness. Public health will also be enhanced through reduction of tar in cigarettes and the establishment of no smoking areas.

Mr President, I beg to move.

End

Bill to outlaw family status discrimination

Following is the speech by the acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Stella Hung, in moving the second reading of the Family Status Discrimination Bill in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

I move that the Family Status Discrimination Bill be read a second time.

In line with our step-by-step approach in promoting equal opportunities for all, we conducted a public consultation exercise last year to solicit public views on the extent of the problem of discrimination on the ground of family status and the measures which could be taken to enhance equal opportunities between persons of different family status. A total of 8,895 submissions were received with an overwhelming support for the legislative option.

The present Bill is a direct response to these opinions of the community. When enacted, it will enhance equal opportunities for persons of different family status, for example, single parents and any persons who have responsibility for the care of an elderly or a disabled family member.