Ten principals in the education sector held a press conference today (9th) to urge the Legislative Council to pass the "Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2019" as soon as possible to prohibit the import, manufacture, sale, distribution and promotion of alternative smoking products.
Liu Zhenhong, chairman of the Hong Kong Subsidized Secondary School Council, said that the academic community is very concerned about the impact of alternative smoking products on school children.
He emphasized that as a responsible Hong Kong citizen, one cannot sacrifice the health of young people in exchange for economic benefits.
Ten principals in the education sector held a press conference today, urging the Legislative Council to pass the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2019 as soon as possible, prohibiting the import, manufacture, sale, distribution and promotion of alternative smoking products.
(Photo by Huang Yingjin)
Principal worries about e-cigarettes as a "pandemic virus" research shows that heated cigarettes are more harmful
In recent years, various alternative smoking products (including e-cigarettes, heating cigarettes, and herbal cigarettes) have appeared on the market. These products are often packaged in the form of stationery, toys, etc., and sales strategies for children and young people have been formulated.
According to the "Thematic Household Survey Report No. 70" of the Census and Statistics Department, among people aged 15 or above, the current smoking rate of e-cigarettes and heating cigarettes are only 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively, but the rate of use by secondary school students has reached 0.8% and 0.5%, showing that alternative smoking products are attractive to children and young people.
Lai Miao-yi, chairman of the Association of Government Secondary School Principals, said that without strict regulation, alternative smoking products will quickly rise among young people. She described: "It will be like a pandemic virus that is out of control."
The chairman of the Hong Kong Aided Primary School Principals’ Association, Chung Lijin, also pointed out that according to a study published by the University of Hong Kong on heating cigarettes, the risk of respiratory symptoms from single heating cigarettes is nearly 50% (46%) higher than that of high school students who smoke traditional cigarettes alone. The health risks of heating smoke may be higher than traditional smoke.
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In view of this, in order to protect the health of children and adolescents and prevent them from becoming addicted to cigarettes, the Council of Subsidized Secondary Schools, Council of Subsidized Primary Schools, Association of Hong Kong Secondary School Principals, Hong Kong Aided Primary School Principals Association, Hong Kong Island Principals Association, Kowloon Region The Association of Principals, the New Territories Principals’ Association, the Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Schools Council, the Association of Government Secondary School Principals, and the Association of Government Primary School Principals have jointly called on the government and the Legislative Council to pass the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2019 as soon as possible, prohibiting imports, Manufacture, sell, distribute and promote alternative smoking products.
Liu Zhenhong, chairman of the Council of Subsidized Secondary Schools of Hong Kong, said that there have been a lot of data showing the hazards of heating cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, but the relevant draft has been delayed for two years and is still being considered by the Legislative Council.
There are even more opinions in the market that the government can only impose limited regulation on alternative smoking products instead of completely banning them.
Liu Zhenhong emphasized that, as a responsible Hong Kong citizen, one cannot sacrifice the health of young people in exchange for economic benefits.
He said: "I hope that the Legislative Council or relevant people will understand that the economy is not all of Hong Kong, and the health of young people is our most nervous and most concerned field."
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