37% of Hong Kong Boys Under 13 Have Smoked (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

                 Wednesday  September 30  1998

                 37pc of boys under 13
                  have smoked: survey 

                 
                CERI WILLIAMS 
                The tobacco industry was attacked yesterday for
                targeting children after a survey showed that one in
                three boys under 13 had smoked.

                One in five girls had smoked by the age of 13 and
                half the 3,964 children from seven to 13
                interviewed were victims of passive smoking from
                their families.

                The first smoking survey of primary school children
                was launched in 1995 by the department of
                community medicine at the University of Hong
                Kong and completed in June.

                Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health
                officials revealed the findings and said tobacco firms
                were trying to find loopholes in anti-smoking laws
                launched in July.

                Council chairman Professor Anthony Hedley said:
                "The new laws are aimed at preventing the
                promotion of tobacco to young children.

                "But it is quite clear the tobacco industry here will
                do everything it can to circumvent the law through
                promotional campaigns to appeal to the young." He
                said council officials recently discovered cigarette
                packets being sold in shops with free lighters and
                cigarette cartons being advertised with free
                watches.

                "The tobacco industry deliberately targets young
                children because they know that if people have not
                smoked by the age of 18 they have less chance of
                becoming smokers," Professor Hedley said.

                Professor Lam Tai-hing, of the department of
                community medicine at the university, said the
                survey showed 37 per cent of boys and 21 per cent
                of girls under 13 had smoked.

                Forty-seven per cent were living with one or more
                smokers and they were also more likely to take up
                the habit.

                Professor Lam said the study showed
                mainland-born children were more likely to smoke.

                He said that contrary to what most people believed
                - that smoking only harmed old people - the survey
                had found that young children with just a short
                amount of smoking experience were suffering nose
                and throat problems.


                        Copyright ©1998 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd.
                                      All Rights Reserved.