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Council. However, in February 1986, our council was reported to have intentions of reviewing its current policy. It is hoped that any such intentions have now been abandoned. A revision of such current policy will be totally out of line with the Government's policy on cigarette smoking and it will make a mockery of the impending ban on advertising cigarettes on radio and television.

(4) It is hoped that the Public Health and Municipal Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 1986 which enables regulations to be made under the principal Ordinance to prohibit, inter alia, the importation, manufacture and sale of smokeless tobacco products will be enacted shortly and before the US manufacturers be able to sow their seeds here in Hong Kong and claim their first group of smokeless tobacco victims. Medical sources said studies in the US linked the use of smokeless tobacco to abnormally high rates of cancer of the mouth, gum disease and tooth damage.

(5) Tobacco smoking is one of the largest sources of indoor pollution. It affects not only the smoker but also indirectly, those compelled to inhale the polluted air. Evidence has accumulated in recent years showing that non-smokers have higher levels of nicotine, carbon monoxide and other toxic substances in their blood when exposed to tobacco smoke. Noting that the survey results are that 83 per cent of the adult population in Hong Kong are non-smokers, and that passive smoking constitutes an indisputable health risk there seems to be a case for increasing the space proportion of places of public entertainment and public transports set aside as a no-smoking area from the present requirement of not less than 50 per cent. The existing state of law requires 50 per cent only of the sitting accommodation in these places to be set aside as no-smoking areas. The recommendation is that the entire auditoria of cinemas, theatres and concert halls be designated as no-smoking areas, with possibly an area set aside outside the auditorium for smokers.

(6) In indoor restaurants, there is no law at present requiring owners to set aside any part of the restaurant as non-smoking area. It is recommended that large indoor restaurants of a certain size and beyond be required to allocate at least half their sitting area as a no-smoking area. In this respect, Hong Kong would be following many other countries that have enacted such legislation.

(7) Surveys quote ex-smokers as identifying 2 main factors which persuaded them to quit—namely, cost and health. It is reported that, along with other anti-smoking measures, the four-fold increase in duty on tobacco since 1981 has been a major factor in bringing the tobacco consumption down from 8 million kgs in 1981 to 3.4 million kg in 1984. The Financial Secretary would perhaps spare a thought on this when considering his next Budget.

I support the Motion.

ADJOURNMENT 5.20 p.m.

CHAIRMAN (in English):―That concludes the business of today's meeting. The Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 23 December 1986 at 2.30 p.m.

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