The Legislative Council today (21st) resumed the second reading of the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2019, banning electronic cigarettes and heating cigarettes.
The more controversial bill is that the uniform ban on heating cigarettes and e-cigarettes has caused dissatisfaction among some business legislators.
[15:15] Tian Beichen, a former smoker, said that when his daughter was four or five years old, he said, "I really want to play with you, but you are so stinky, can you bury it?" Big blow.
He said that although he didn't smoke at home, he still had a smell that couldn't be eliminated after returning home. It was because of a word from his daughter that he decided to quit smoking and never smoked.
He said that the current heating cigarettes have many colors and will be very attractive to Niu Qingren to buy. As the father-in-law of six grandchildren, he supports the prohibition of heating cigarettes and electronic cigarettes.
He also urged the government to set a timetable for smoking ban, hoping that Hong Kong will eventually become a smoke-free market.
[15:05] The Liberal Party’s wholesale and retail sector member Shao Jiahui pointed out that he first declared that he had not smoked any e-cigarettes, heated cigarettes, or traditional cigarettes.
He mentioned that one of the trade associations represented by the wholesale and retail sector is the Tobacco Chamber of Commerce, which legally represents them, but based on the current situation, "if I run for election later, please don't ask tobacco friends to vote for me."
He criticized that after the bill passed this time, there was no choice, and smokers had no chance to "reducing harm."
Shao Jiahui pointed out that heating smoke to reduce harm has been rigorously scientifically demonstrated, "People have choices. Why should an 18-year-old person not affect others without letting him choose?"
He requested that the government "in response to international changes and scientific argumentation" in the future, when one day the world invents other "harm reduction", it can consider changing its policy, "consider coming forward to bleat things," instead of just "moral halo", "more Listen more, see what happens in the world, you have to go to the extreme."
Huang Dingguang sighs that coordination is difficult: the whole process of talking was overthrown and turned back
[14:25] Huang Dingguang, chairman of the Bills Committee on the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2019, said that he did not want to say too much about this bill, but he has to say a few words in the end.
He declared in advance that he has no direct or indirect interest. He has been a smoker for more than 50 years, but has never been exposed to electronic cigarettes or heating cigarettes.
He said that in the 17 years of the Legislative Council, many bills committees have been dealt with. The bill this time "is really troubled and regrettable to me."
Huang Yishu said that the committee had held 6 meetings and communicated 7 times with senior officials of the bureau, including directors and deputy directors, permanent secretaries, and political assistants. It is conveyed when the industry communicates.
He communicated with the Tobacco Affairs Association 18 times and with the Smoking and Health Committee twice, but "It's a pity that he will eventually have to ask the Chief Executive to ask me to talk about the bill."
Huang Dingguang said that during the entire work process of the Bills Committee, "I feel that all the talks have been overthrown, so I went back and forth, and I felt so helpless."
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