ENG-2017 — Page 204

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Health

Under the ordinance, applications can be made to the department to exempt certain commercial products made from processed human tissue, enabling patients with genuine medical needs to benefit from the use of these products. As at the end of 2017, the department had approved the exemption of 42 products since the ordinance took effect in 2011.

Smoking and Health

China is a state party to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organisation (WHO), so provisions of the convention are applicable to Hong Kong. The city's 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.

The Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance stipulates statutory no-smoking areas, regulates the packaging and labelling of tobacco products, and prohibits all advertisements and promotions. for such products. Smoking is banned in all indoor areas of workplaces and public places, including restaurants and bars, as well as some outdoor areas, including the open areas of schools, leisure grounds, bathing beaches and public transport facilities. Offenders are liable to a fine of $1,500 under the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Ordinance. On 21 December, the sizes of health warnings were increased from 50 per cent to 85 per cent of the two largest surfaces of a packet of tobacco products.

The department's Tobacco Control Office enforces regulations set out in the two ordinances above. In 2017, it conducted 33,159 inspections and issued 149 summonses and 9,711 fixed penalty notices for smoking offences. A special task force was formed to enhance the enforcement action at night and during holidays. The office also distributes guidelines, posters, no-smoking signs and pamphlets to the public and the venue managers of statutory no- smoking areas.

In addition, the office provides advice on how to quit smoking, counselling services and pharmaceutical treatment through a smoking cessation hotline (1833 183), clinics and an interactive online cessation centre. In 2017, the hotline handled more than 7,300 phone calls. The office also conducts seminars and issues materials to increase awareness of the harmful effects of smoking and second-hand cigarette smoke. It works with NGOs to run community- based smoking cessation programmes that include the use of Chinese medicine acupuncture, peer-led phone counselling, smoking cessation services at the workplace, programmes for ethnic minorities and new immigrants, and school activities.

The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, an independent statutory body, advises the government on smoking, passive smoking and health, and publicises the hazards of smoking. The council also conducts publicity, education and community involvement campaigns, and operates a website and a hotline to receive enquiries and suggestions from the public an smoking and health.

The Hospital Authority provides counselling and cessation services through its 15 full-time and 52 part-time smoking counselling and cessation centres. It also operates a hotline providing booking and enquiry services for people who wish to quit smoking.

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