ENG-2006 — Page 214

174 | Health

The council continued carrying out its health education programmes in schools. It gave 203 talks to primary and secondary schools and staged an interactive drama programme in 32 primary schools. In addition, the council launched a territory-wide publicity campaign called Smoke Free Hong Kong which included announcements in the public interest broadcast on TV and radio. The council has a website www.smokefree.hk as well as a hotline to receive enquiries and suggestions from the public on matters related to smoking and health.

Taxation

Taxation is widely recognised as one of the most effective tobacco control measures especially among younger smokers. The Government currently imposes a duty on tobacco products amounting to $804 for each 1 000 cigarettes, or $16 for a pack of 20 cigarettes.

Smoking Cessation

Recognising the importance of smoking cessation to a comprehensive tobacco control policy, smoking counselling and cessation services are offered to smokers and their family members by trained nurses and pharmacists at 16 full-time and 14 part-time smoking counselling and cessation centres in public hospitals and general out-patient clinics. Counselling and medications are offered to quitters in treating their tobacco dependence. A 'quit-line' telephone hotline has been set up to provide enquiry and appointment services.

During 2006, the number of enquiry and counselling cases handled at these centres amounted to 18 000 and the success quit rate as surveyed during one of the months was around 80 per cent. These centres also organised a number of support groups, health exhibitions and educational talks to further promote smoking cessation.

Disease Prevention and Control

Including the disease prevention efforts made by the maternal and child health centres and elderly health centres mentioned above, the Department of Health spent $1,182.8 million on disease prevention and control.

Centre for Health Protection

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) was set up under the Department of Health on 1 June 2004, with the mission of achieving effective prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Hong Kong in collaboration with local and international stakeholders.

Much effort has been put into the development of information systems, including launching of the Public Health Information System and the Laboratory Information System. A consultancy study has been conducted to draw up a development plan for the Communicable Disease Information System that enables real-time data exchange on communicable diseases among different sectors in the community.