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Speech by SHW (English only)

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Following is a speech by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Dr E K Yeoh, at the Opening Ceremony of the 6th Asia Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health on "Youth Fight Back" today (October 26):

Mr Tseng, Prof. Lee, honourable guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It is my honour to have been invited to officiate at the Opening Ceremony of this important event, the 6th Asia Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health.

In recent years, youth smoking has become an increasingly acute problem in many countries. According to the World Bank, approximately 80,000-100,000 young people around the world become addicted to tobacco every day. Hong Kong is no exception to this undesirable situation. Despite the steady decline in our overall smoking prevalence to 12.4% in the year 2000, which is one of the lowest in the world, the number of young smokers is still on the rising trend. The smoking prevalence for youths has increased from 2.8% to 4.5% from 1998 to 2000. The situation is particularly serious amongst girls. For girls aged between 15 and 19, the number of smokers has doubled from 1.3% to 2.6% over the past two years.

Most smokers begin smoking before they reach the age of 18. Unless the current trend is reversed, more than 5 million children alive in the United States today will die early as a result of this deadly habit. In Hong Kong, a survey conducted in 1999 also showed that about 80% of the smokers started smoking under the age of 20. By the time these children realize the harmful effects of smoking on their bodies, it may already be too late. It is therefore of utmost importance that we take swift and effective action to prevent our children from becoming addicted to tobacco. The participation of the many local and international experts in this Conference will certainly shed new light on the effective means to tackle the problem.

In Hong Kong, we learn from experiences, both local and international, that publicity and education are effective means of containing the proliferation of tobacco use. To achieve this aim, action plan involving inter-sectoral collaboration is essential. The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, an independent statutory body established in 1987, has been taking the lead in organizing anti-smoking community involvement campaigns in collaboration with other NGOs, schools and district organizations.

Apart from that, the Hong Kong Government has implemented other strategies to accomplish our tobacco control objectives. Raising tobacco tax, and thus the price of tobacco products, is one essential tool in reducing tobacco consumption. At present, about 50% of the retail price of a pack of cigarettes in Hong Kong is tobacco duty. We believe that this rate, being one of the highest in the world, can go a long way in deterring our children from taking up smoking. To better coordinate our enforcement effort, a dedicated enforcement agency, the Tobacco Control Office, was established under the Department of Health early this year to streamline and co-ordinate different parties concerned. This Office will liaise with other enforcement agencies in ensuring effective implementation and enforcement of our smoking legislation, the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance. This Ordinance, first enacted in 1982, restricts the use, sale and promotion of tobacco products in Hong Kong. In line with our step-by-step approach, the Ordinance is amended from time to time, having regard to the global trend in tobacco control and changing domestic aspirations. In short, the adoption of this multi-pronged approach, comprising publicity, education, taxation, law enforcement and legislation, provides Hong Kong with a robust tobacco control regime, which in turn safeguards the health of our community.

To Hong Kong, this Conference could not have taken place in a better time. We are currently considering a host of new legislative initiatives with a view of further protecting the public from exposure to secondhand smoke in indoor public premises. Our proposal also seeks to protect our youth by further restricting the promotion of tobacco products. I certainly welcome your views and feedback on these proposals. I am also confident that the insights and expertise we have in this theater, and the intense discussion and exchange of ideas in the coming three days, will add fresh impetus to the deliberation and facilitate a more informed discussion of the subject in the community.

Finally, may I wish this 6th Asia Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health a great success, and all participants a pleasant stay in Hong Kong.

Thank you.

End/Friday, October 26, 2001

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