Tobacco control efforts working

June 27, 2012

The Government's anti-smoking strategy is proving a success, with fewer Hong Kong people indulging in the nicotine habit.
 
Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Prof KC Chan told the Legislative Council today all age groups saw a significant drop in smoking prevalence, except for those aged 60 or above, and 15 to 19, according to the last two Census & Statistics Department surveys.
 
He said the proportion of people with a daily smoking habit, aged 15 and above, dropped from 12%, or 698,700 people, in 2009 to 11.1%, or 657,000, in 2010.
 
A new smoking prevalence survey started late last year and the Government will closely monitor its findings, he said.
 
The Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach, comprising legislation, taxation, publicity, education, enforcement, and promotion of smoking cessation services to reduce smoking and protect the public from exposure to second-hand smoke.
 
"On smoking cessation services, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority have been operating a cessation counselling telephone hotline, and providing smoking cessation services in their respective clinics," he said.
 
Collaborative efforts have also been undertaken with non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, and healthcare professionals to promote smoking cessation and provide smoking cessation services to the public.
 
He said the Government has been devoting more resources to tobacco control, particularly to smoking cessation services. The department's expenditure on tobacco control has increased from $110 million in 2011-12 to $150 million in the current financial year.
 
The Government will continue to closely monitor the effectiveness of various tobacco control measures, and provide additional resources for tobacco control where necessary.