The government recently announced plans to implement 10 new smoking control measures within the year, including the prohibition of smoking while queuing and banning flavored tobacco products. Professor Wang Wenbing, from the School of Nursing at the University of Hong Kong and a member of the Smoking and Health Committee, expressed his support for these measures on a radio program on the 16th. He suggested that the government should expedite the implementation of this comprehensive anti-smoking strategy and believed that the smoking rate could be reduced to 7.8% by the end of next year.
Wang Wenbing pointed out on the radio program that Hong Kong’s tobacco tax has not reached the World Health Organization’s recommended 75% of tobacco retail price. He recommended that the government significantly increase tobacco taxes next year and introduce innovative smoking cessation services. This could include actively providing short-term quit-smoking services to smokers in the community and referring those in need to hospitals, non-profit organizations, or the University of Hong Kong for long-term smoking cessation services.
Regarding the government’s recent short-term measures, Wang believes that they have been carefully considered for a long time. These measures, including public consultations to gather different opinions, are based on previous anti-smoking policy research results and WHO guidelines. For the medium to long-term measures, the formulation process is also comprehensive and rigorous.
Wang is of the opinion that strict anti-smoking policies will not deter tourists from visiting Hong Kong, as the majority of tourists do not smoke and smokers constitute a minority. He cited the example of legislation banning smoking in restaurants years ago, which initially sparked controversy but eventually resulted in improved business for restaurants.
Emphasizing that the government’s anti-smoking measures aim to restrict the interests of tobacco companies rather than deprive smokers of their freedom, Wang explained that smokers are often controlled by nicotine and may lose the freedom to choose other healthy activities. He also cautioned against using smokers as a divisive tool, stating that “smokers will always be our friends.”
Earlier this month, the government announced plans to submit legislative proposals to the Legislative Council by the end of the year, including prohibiting smoking while queuing, expanding designated non-smoking areas, fully banning alternative smoking products, increasing cigarette packaging warning sizes to 100%, and prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to individuals under 18 years old.