ENG-2019 — Page 199

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Health

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.

The emergence of alternative smoking products, including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes, poses new health risks and challenges. To protect public health, the government introduced the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2019 for Legislative Council scrutiny, proposing to ban the import, manufacture, sale, distribution and advertising of alternative smoking products.

The Department of Health's Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office enforces regulations set out in the two ordinances above. In 2019, it conducted over 34,600 inspections and issued 67 summonses and 8,068 fixed penalty notices for smoking offences. The office also distributes guidelines, posters, no-smoking signs and pamphlets to the public and the venue managers of statutory no-smoking areas.

The office promotes smoking prevention and cessation through public education and programmes based in the school or community. It works with NGOs to operate smoking cessation clinics as well as cessation programmes targeting workplaces, ethnic minorities and new immigrants. More support is rendered via a quit line (1833 183) and mobile application.

The Hospital Authority manages 15 full-time and 55 part-time smoking counselling and cessation centres. It operates a hotline, 2300 7272, providing booking and enquiry services for people who wish to quit smoking.

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

matters.

Disease Prevention and Control

The department spent $5.8 billion on disease prevention and control at its maternal and child health centres, elderly health centres and similar facilities in 2018-19.

Centre for Health Protection

The Centre for Health Protection collaborates with local and international counterparts to prevent and control diseases in Hong Kong. It works on three principles: real-time surveillance, rapid intervention and responsive risk communication. The centre keeps track of communicable diseases and issues surveillance reports and laboratory data reports regularly.

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