ENG-2004 — Page 227

Health 189

With the establishment of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) in June 2004, a website (http://www.chp.gov.hk) was set up to disseminate health information for the public and health care professionals.

Oral Health Education Unit

Educational and promotional activities were organised throughout the year by the Oral Health Education Unit of the Department of Health to enhance the community's general level of oral health awareness. These activities include outreaching programmes delivered through the 'Oral Health Education Bus', and target-specific programmes delivered through Maternal and Child Health Centres, kindergartens and pre-school centres to more than 150 000 pre-schoolers every year. Information on oral health is accessible to the public through the oral health education homepage, http://www.toothclub.gov.hk, and the 24-hour interactive oral health education telephone hotline.

An annual Love Teeth Campaign was launched in September. The theme was 'Treat Your Gums Right'. A new oral health promotion bus was also launched at the same time. This will replace the old bus to serve a wider range of targets including the disabled.

Smoking and Health

Tobacco Control Office

The Tobacco Control Office was set up in 2001 under the Department of Health to coordinate the Government's tobacco control efforts and to promote a smoke-free culture in Hong Kong through intersectoral collaboration and community participation.

Recognising the complexity of tobacco control issues, the office has adopted a multi-pronged approach to achieve its goals. One of the priority areas is to assist managers and staff working in statutory no-smoking areas to comply with and enforce the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance. In 2004, the Tobacco Control Office organised 69 workshops for 1 039 venue management staff of statutory no-smoking areas. In addition, 125 restaurants and 136 shopping malls were visited by officers of the Tobacco Control Office and the legal requirements were explained to managers of these no-smoking areas. Furthermore, 143 Smoke-free Workplace Workshops were conducted for 3 313 managers and staff of workplaces.

Under the ordinance, tobacco advertisements are prohibited in printed publications distributed in Hong Kong. The office screened 2 134 issues of printed publications. A total of 23 warning letters concerning tobacco advertisements were issued during the year. The office also organised health education activities by itself or in collaboration with other organisations to increase public awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco and second-hand smoke.

Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health

The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health is an independent statutory body to acquire and disseminate information on the hazards of using tobacco