ENG-2011 — Page 220

180 Health

the maximum extent possible through a step-by-step and multi-pronged approach, including publicity, education, legislation, enforcement, promotion of smoking cessation, and taxation.

Legislation

The Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance stipulates statutory no-smoking areas and enforcement arrangements, and regulates the advertisement, promotion, packaging and labelling of tobacco products.

Since the implementation of the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance in 1982, the no-smoking areas have been gradually extended. Currently, smoking is banned in all indoor areas of workplaces and public places, including restaurants and bars, as well as outdoor areas of schools, leisure grounds, bathing beaches and public transport facilities.

With the enactment of the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Ordinance on September 1, 2009, persons smoking in statutory no smoking areas and on public transport carriers are liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. Currently, all advertisements and promotions on tobacco products are prohibited in Hong Kong.

Taxation

To strengthen further the effectiveness of tobacco duty as a measure to discourage tobacco consumption, duty-free concessions on tobacco products for incoming passengers at border entries (except for a small quantity for self- consumption) were abolished on August 1, 2010. In addition, the Government increased tobacco duty rates by 41.5 per cent with immediate effect on Budget Day on February 23, 2011 with a view to curbing cigarette consumption.

Implementation and Enforcement

A main task of the Tobacco Control Office (TCO) under the DH, set up in 2001, is to enforce the smoking ban at statutory no-smoking areas. It conducted over 23 000 inspections and issued over 170 summonses and over 7 600 fixed penalty notices for smoking offences in 2011. In 2011, the TCO organised 10 seminars attended by some 260 people. The TCO also distributed health education materials (including guidelines, posters, no smoking signs and pamphlets) to venue managers of statutory no smoking areas and to the public.

Publicity and Education

The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) is an independent statutory body charged with advising the Government on matters relating to smoking, passive smoking and health, and with publicising the hazards of smoking. The COSH has conducted a number of publicity and community involvement campaigns to nurture a smoke-free culture. It also conducts education and publicity campaigns at kindergartens and primary and secondary schools through health talks and theatre programmes. The aim is to encourage students to say 'no' to smoking and to support a smoke-free environment. The COSH's publicity and educational programmes attracted an attendance of about 163 500 people in 2011.