Latest news with #HongKongCouncilonSmokingandHealth
RTHK
6 days ago
- Health
- RTHK
Ban on space oil ingredients 'stops drug production'
Ban on space oil ingredients 'stops drug production' Henry Tong welcomes the government's proposal to ban all etomidate analogues. File photo: RTHK The government's latest proposal to ban all synthetic versions of a space oil drug ingredient can effectively prevent the production of different types of the drug, chairman of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health Henry Tong said. The Security Bureau on Tuesday proposed introducing a generic definition of etomidate analogues under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, empowering law enforcement agencies to ban the trafficking of all etomidate analogues. Tong told RTHK that he welcomes the bureau's action. 'That's an effective way to prevent criminals from keep creating different space oil drugs,' he said. Tong also appealed to the government to impose a complete ban on the possession of e-cigarettes, which he said are the 'main and only device' for young people to take the space oil drug. 'If the government can outlaw the possession of any e-cigarettes in Hong Kong, that sends a very clear message to all the people that e-cigarette itself, the device itself, is illegal and dangerous,' he said. Tong also said many students became drug users due to various reasons, such as coming from broken families, suffering mental stress or having been bullied by other students.
RTHK
6 days ago
- Health
- RTHK
Ban on space oil ingredients 'stops drug production'
Ban on space oil ingredients 'stops drug production' Henry Tong welcomes the government's proposal to ban all etomidate analogues. File photo: RTHK The government's latest proposal to ban all synthetic versions of a space oil drug ingredient can effectively prevent the production of different types of the drug, chairman of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health Henry Tong said. The Security Bureau on Tuesday proposed introducing a generic definition of etomidate analogues under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, empowering law enforcement agencies to ban the trafficking of all etomidate analogues. Tong told RTHK that he welcomes the bureau's action. 'That's an effective way to prevent criminals from keep creating different space oil drugs,' he said. Tong also appealed to the government to impose a complete ban on the possession of e-cigarettes, which he said are the 'main and only device' for young people to take the space oil drug. 'If the government can outlaw the possession of any e-cigarettes in Hong Kong, that sends a very clear message to all the people that e-cigarette itself, the device itself, is illegal and dangerous,' he said. Tong also said many students became drug users due to various reasons, such as coming from broken families, suffering mental stress or having been bullied by other students.
RTHK
25-04-2025
- Health
- RTHK
'Alternative smoking products ban could ensure health'
'Alternative smoking products ban could ensure health' Henry Tong says the proposal to ban alternative smoking products is crucial in ensuring public health. File photo: RTHK The chairman of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health on Friday welcomed the government's proposed anti-smoking measures, including barring alternative smoking products. Henry Tong told RTHK that the ban is crucial in ensuring the health of the public, particularly young people. "There has been research showing that for young smokers who use e-cigarettes, there is a much higher chance that they become lifetime smokers," he said. "Because most smokers who get cancer or heart disease or strokes, I think over 95 percent of them, they were treated by the Hong Kong public health system, which adds a lot of pressure to our public health system," Tong added. The administration is looking to impose stiffer penalties for those who bring in more than the permitted amount of 19 sticks of undeclared cigarettes. Offenders would be fined HK$5,000 instead of the current HK$2,000. The measure would take effect immediately once the amendment bill is gazetted. At the same time, those bringing in illicit cigarettes would be fined HK$2 million – double the current amount, and face a jail term that is five years more than the current seven. Tong said he believes these proposed measures could reduce the number of illicit cigarettes. As for the proposal to have all cigarette packages uniformly designed, he said it would discourage smokers who have quit from picking up the habit again. "Even sometimes when they have a low intention to smoke, they were attracted to trying cigarettes because if you go to a convenience store, or go to a newspaper stand in Hong Kong, right now, in most cases, the cigarette packs are nicely arranged according to their brand name, and sometimes, even some kind of promotional wording on the pack facing the customer arranged in a nice light box." Tong added similar measures are being enforced in other places.
.jpg%3Fitok%3Dc0reL9ud&w=3840&q=100)
South China Morning Post
10-02-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Safeguarding public health – Call for a total ban on flavoured tobacco and possession of alternative smoking products
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) and academics from The University of Hong Kong released new tobacco control surveys which show a higher rate of flavoured cigarette use among teenagers and women. Mr Henry TONG Sau-chai, COSH Chairman, said, 'Menthol, fruit, and other tobacco flavours added by the tobacco industry are a significant factor that encourages teenagers and women to first try and then continue smoking. Flavoured tobacco does harm to our next generation by increasing addiction levels among young people, making it harder for them to quit.' 'In the long term, flavoured tobacco poses a major obstacle to decreasing the prevalence of smoking in Hong Kong and undoubtedly raises public health concerns.' Mr TONG said. 'COSH urges the Government to institute a total ban on flavoured tobacco as soon as possible and to implement multiple short, medium, and long-term tobacco control measures to protect the health of Hong Kong residents by curbing this resurgent area of tobacco-related harm.' Higher flavoured cigarette smoking rates in young adults and women The Tobacco Control Policy-related Survey commissioned by COSH and conducted by The University of Hong Kong from January to May 2024 found that nearly half of current smokers use flavoured cigarettes, with higher rates among teenagers and women. Over 86 percent of female smokers aged 15-29 are using flavoured cigarettes, the highest among all age groups. Flavoured cigarettes have increased levels of addiction among young smokers, offering an easy lure for teenagers to fall into nicotine addiction. The survey found that nearly 40 percent (36.2 percent) of teenagers who use flavoured cigarettes are moderately to severely addicted, which is twice the rate of those using non-flavoured cigarettes (16.7 percent). The survey also indicated that young smokers of flavoured cigarettes are more likely to also be using alternative smoking products (including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products) and waterpipes. Professor Kelvin WANG Man-ping, Professor, The School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, said, 'Teenagers and women are increasingly attracted to flavoured tobacco products, with preferences for particular flavours and brands. This phenomenon makes it more likely they will take up smoking, develop an addiction, and continue smoking as a habit. Certain flavourings (such as menthol, cocoa, sweeteners, etc.) used in flavoured cigarettes can promote the absorption of nicotine and enhance nicotine's effects on the brain, thus exacerbating the addiction, leading smokers to smoke more frequently and for longer periods of time, and making it more difficult to quit the habit. According to the survey, over 70 percent of the public support banning flavoured tobacco products, and this percentage continues to rise – a clear indication of societal support for a ban on flavoured tobacco and of the urgent need for legislation.' Flavoured tobacco leads to addiction in teenagers
