ENG-2014 — Page 189

8

Health

heart, four double-tung and 337 cornea donations from the deceased in Hong Kong's public hospitals.

The Human Organ Transplant Ordinance regulates the transplant of human organs and importation of human organs for transplant purposes, and prohibits commercial dealings in human organs intended for transplant. Approval from the statutory Human Organ Transplant Board is required for transplantation of human organs between living persons who are not genetically related or a couple whose marriage has subsisted for not more than three years. In 2014, the board received a total of 19 applications for organ transplants between living non- related persons and 61 human organs were imported into Hong Kong for transplant purposes.

Under the ordinance, applications can be made to the DH for exemption of certain commercial products made from human tissue that have been subjected to processing, enabling patients with a genuine medical need for a transplant to benefit from the use of these products. As at the end of 2014, the DH had received 32 applications for exemption and approved 33 products.

Smoking and Health

China is a state party to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organisation, 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 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.

In 2014, the DH's Tobacco Control Office (TCO) conducted over 29,000 inspections and issued 193 summonses and 7,834 fixed penalty notices for smoking offences. In addition, the TCO distributes health education materials (including guidelines, posters, no smoking signs and pamphlets) to venue managers of statutory no-smoking areas and to the public.

Taxation

The government increased tobacco duty rates by 11.7 per cent in February 2014 to curb cigarette consumption.

145