2023-07-12 20:31:57
no smoking
The government has introduced a number of tobacco control measures in recent years, hoping to reduce the smoking rate to 7.8% by 2025. The Government released the “Tobacco Control Strategy Consultation Document” to collect public opinions on the next phase of tobacco control measures. The document proposes four major strategies, including directions and measures, including increasing tobacco taxes, prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to people born following a specified year; prohibiting “locomotive” behavior, and expanding the scope of statutory no-smoking areas. The consultation period is until September 30. Lu Chongmao, director of the Medical and Health Bureau, said that in order to avoid increasing the burden on the medical system and for the sake of the next generation, tobacco control measures must be formulated as soon as possible.
The consultation document proposes four major strategies, including supply control, prohibition of publicity, expansion of restricted areas, and key education, and proposes 14 measures for consideration. Lu Chongmao said that there are still nearly 600,000 smokers in Hong Kong, and one out of every two smokers dies prematurely due to smoking. In order to protect the medical system and prevent a generation from being harmed by tobacco, tobacco control measures must be formulated as soon as possible. Li Ligang, deputy secretary-general of the Medical and Health Bureau, said that the number of women smoking has risen instead of falling in recent years, and hopes to reach the target of 7.8% smoking rate by 2025.
Lu Chongmao
Undecided ban on selling cigarettes to those born following
The document lists 14 directions and measures. In terms of supply control, one of the directions is to increase tobacco tax rates. Lu Chongmao said that the tobacco tax recommended by the WHO is 75%, but the current local tobacco tax accounts for only 64% of the retail price, so it is considered to increase the tobacco tax. Another direction that has received more attention is the prohibition of the sale of cigarettes to people born following a specified date, that is, “tobacco end”. Lu Chongmao responded that there is no specific year yet, and the government is open-minded and expects to listen to the opinions of the public.
In terms of expanding the no-smoking area, the document proposes to prohibit the behavior of “smoking while walking”, commonly known as “locomotive”, so as to reduce the chances of citizens inhaling second-hand smoke. As for the expansion of smoking-free public places, the proposed locations include pedestrian bridges and public transport waiting areas, as well as designated areas near schools and hospitals. In addition, the document also mentions increasing the fixed penalty for illegal smoking, and the consultation direction proposes 3,000 yuan or 5,000 yuan. Citizens are also welcome to give their opinions on other amounts.
Regarding the prohibition of , the consultation direction includes regulating the additives of tobacco products, such as adding fruit flavors to products, strengthening the management of smoke-free places, and expanding the area of health warnings on cigarette packages to 100%. The consultation period runs from now until September 30, and citizens can express their opinions by filling out online questionnaires or by mail.
Tobacco Tax Increased by the Newspaper and Vendor Industry Boosts the Illegal Cigarette Market
The Long-Term Tobacco Policy Concern Group welcomes the government’s public consultation, and points out that the influx of illicit cigarettes has increased significantly, and the addition of tobacco tax will not help tobacco control. It believes that the next phase of tobacco control policies should focus on “combating illicit cigarettes” and “improving smoking cessation services” Heavy.
The Hong Kong Newspaper Vendors Association and the Hong Kong Newspaper Vendors Association strongly oppose the increase of tobacco tax, pointing out that the government’s earlier increase in tobacco tax has made the illicit cigarette market more rampant, severely hitting the livelihood of law-abiding small traders, and the overall business of newspapers has plummeted by nearly 50%. Call on some groups to propose truly effective tobacco control measures to avoid losses to newspaper vendors.
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