The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and his delegation were invited to attend the 39th World No Tobacco Day event in Shenzhen today (May 28). Professor Lo also received the World No Tobacco Day Award from an official of the World Health Organization (WHO).

     The event was jointly hosted by the Department of Planning and Information of the National Health Commission (NHC), the Health Commission of Guangdong Province, and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government. Addressing the event, Vice-minister of the NHC Ms Guo Yanhong said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has long adopted a multipronged and progressive approach to reduce the hazards caused by tobacco to members of the public and society through measures such as legislation, taxation, publicity, education, enforcement and provision of smoking cessation services, achieving notable success. The presentation of the World No Tobacco Day Award by the WHO to the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and the Secretary for Health of the HKSAR Government, as well as the establishment of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Tobacco Control Monitoring and Evaluation at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, represent a high degree of recognition of tobacco control work in cities such as Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and the full affirmation of China's tobacco control efforts. The NHC extends its congratulations.

     At the event, the WHO Representative to China, Mr Martin Taylor, announced that Professor Lo and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government were awarded the World No Tobacco Day Award 2026, and presented the Award to him and a representative of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government. Professor Lo said, "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the WHO for presenting this encouraging Award, which symbolises the WHO's recognition and high regard of the HKSAR Government's work on tobacco control. I am deeply honoured to receive this accolade on behalf of the HKSAR. With the support of the Central Government, the HKSAR Government has resolutely implemented tobacco control policies over the years. Hong Kong and Shenzhen are geographically connected and culturally intertwined. Receiving this recognition from the WHO in the field of tobacco control together with the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government today is profoundly meaningful. This demonstrates the concerted efforts of Hong Kong and Shenzhen to promote the collective strength and effectiveness of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in respect of public health governance and injects stronger impetus for building a 'Smoke-free Bay Area'."

     Professor Lo then signed a joint statement on behalf of the Health Bureau together with the Director-General of the Health Commission of Guangdong Province, Mr Liu Liqun, Deputy Director of the Health Bureau of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government Dr Cheang Seng Ip, and representatives of the nine Mainland cities in the GBA under the theme of "United in Building the Dream of a 'Smoke-free Bay Area' - Joining Hands for a Healthy Future", which symbolises the establishment of closer collaboration in the field of tobacco control in the GBA. The joint statement clearly sets out three common visions based on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, namely: (1) resolutely upholding the rule of law as the bedrock for tobacco control, preventing minors from accessing tobacco products, particularly alternative smoking products, and safeguarding existing smoke-free public spaces; (2) deepening exchanges and mutual learning in the GBA by establishing a regular communication and exchange mechanism on tobacco control; and (3) strictly controlling the circulation and marketing of tobacco by combatting tobacco advertising and distribution channels of illicit tobacco along the entire chain. Professor Lo remarked that the joint statement aligned closely with this year's World No Tobacco Day theme of countering nicotine and tobacco addiction and provided a direct and targeted response to the means such as alternative smoking products and tobacco advertising that lure members of the public and even the next generation into smoking addiction.

     After the event, Professor Lo and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, together with representatives from the NHC, the WHO, the Health Commission of Guangdong Province, the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and the Macao SAR Government, conducted a site visit to examine Shenzhen's tobacco control work at the community level. Professor Lo said, "Following our earlier efforts to publicise Hong Kong's tobacco control regulations to incoming passengers to Hong Kong in the boundary control point area in Shenzhen, we will continue to deepen our co-operation with other GBA cities and share the HKSAR's experience in tobacco control, with a view to jointly enhancing the effectiveness of tobacco control work across the GBA to safeguard the health of residents of the Bay Area."

     The delegation members included Dr Lam, the Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Excise and Strategic Support), Mr Ng Chun-wah, as well as the Chairman of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, Mr Henry Tong, and the Vice-Chairman, Dr Johnnie Chan.

Ends/Thursday, May 28, 2026
Issued at HKT 15:55

NNNN