The average tar and nicotine yields of cigarettes sold in Hong Kong fell slightly over the past year. The Department of Health's latest review on Hong Kong's 88 best-selling cigarettes has found their average tar and nicotine yields are 9.1 milligrams and 0.76 millgrams per cigarette, down 0.3 mg/cig and 0.01 mg/cig on the previous year.

Of the 88 brands, 50 are classified in the low-tar group (0-9 mg/cig), 37 in the middle-tar group (10-14 mg/cig), and one in the high-tar group (15-17 mg/cig).

The Government Chemist has been reviewing tar and nicotine yields since 1983 and publishing findings annually. More details of the review are available here.

The department warned that smoking and second-hand smoke, even from cigarettes in the low-tar group, is harmful to health. The Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2005 proposes to delete the tar group designation.

Smoking cessation services, including counselling and nicotine replacement therapy, are provided by the department and the Hospital Authority. For more information on quitting, visit the Tobacco Control Office's website or call 2961 8823.