ENG-2013 — Page 188

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Health

Appointments for counselling and HIV antibody/rapid tests may be made on the hotline 2780 2211. In 2013, the hotline received over 24,900 calls, of which about 17,800 calls sought AIDS counselling from nurse counsellors. About 950,000 condoms were distributed to promote safer sex. There are also a Gay Men HIV Testing Hotline (2117 1069) and a website (www.21171069. com). In 2013, the Gay Men HIV Testing Hotline received 453 calls for counselling and HIV antibody/rapid testing.

Organ Donation

The DH promotes organ donation in various ways (including a dedicated page on Facebook) together with the HA, healthcare professional bodies and voluntary organisations. As at the end of 2013, over 130,000 persons had registered with the Centralised Organ Donation Register to express their wish to donate their organs after death.

The number of patients waiting for kidney, liver, heart and lung transplants stood at 1,991, 120, 17 and 18 respectively as at the end of 2013, whereas there were 38 liver, 70 renal, 11 heart, two double-lung, two single-lung and 248 cornea donations from the deceased in Hong Kong's public hospitals in 2013.

Smoking and Health

China is a state party to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organisation (WHO), making provisions of the convention applicable to Hong Kong. Hong Kong's current tobacco control policy aims to discourage smoking, contain the proliferation of tobacco use and minimise the impact from passive smoking through a progressive and multi- pronged approach, comprising legislation, publicity, education, enforcement, smoking cessation and taxation.

Legislation and Enforcement

The Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance stipulates statutory no-smoking areas and enforcement arrangements, and regulates the advertisement, promotion, packaging and labelling of tobacco products. Smoking is banned in all indoor areas of workplaces and public places, including restaurants and bars, as well as outdoor areas, including the open areas of schools, leisure grounds, bathing beaches and public transport facilities. Persons smoking in statutory no- smoking areas and on public transport carriers are liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500 under the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Ordinance. All advertisements and promotions for tobacco products are prohibited in Hong Kong.

The DH's Tobacco Control Office (TCO) enforces the smoking ban at statutory no-smoking areas. In 2013, the TCO conducted over 27,400 inspections and issued 232 summonses and 8,330 fixed penalty notices for smoking offences. It also organised 55 seminars attended by over 1,700 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.

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