[Intl-tobacco] Hong Kong tightens anti-smoking laws (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Hong Kong tightens anti-smoking laws
by (Reuters News)
Source: Japan Today, 2001-08-30

HONG KONG =97 Hong Kong is likely to tighten its anti-smoking laws within a
year, forcing people to butt out in restaurants, offices and eventually
bars, a senior government official said.

Secretary for Health and Welfare Yeoh Eng-kiong said during a community
tour on Wednesday that the planned blanket ban would be imposed in phases,
with smoking to be outlawed first in eating and workplaces and later in
pubs and karaoke bars. His office sent a copy of the remarks to Reuters on
Thursday.

The proposals will need to be passed by the territory's 60-member
legislative council to become law.

The government started a three-month public consultation on planned
tougher anti-smoking measures in late June. Existing laws prohibit smoking
in some public places and advertising tobacco products on television or in
print.

Displaying tobacco advertisements or selling cigarettes to people under 18
carry maximum fines of HK$25,000 (US$3,200).

The proposed curbs have incensed smokers and owners of restaurants and
entertainment spots, where smoking is popular.

Yeoh stressed that any economic difficulties faced by the food and
entertainment industry would be considered in the new legislation.

Hong Kong, a territory of nearly seven million people, has few smokers
compared to many developed countries. Only 27% of its men and about 2.9%
of its women smoke regularly.

In mainland China, 63% of men and 3.8% of women smoke; and in Japan,
smokers make up 52.8% of men and 13.4% of women, according to the World
Health Organisation. (Reuters News)