Expanding non-smoking areas is our priority: Lo
The Health Secretary said on Thursday that he will prioritise the expansion of non-smoking areas, especially around schools and hospitals, to ensure that vulnerable people are not affected by second-hand smoke.  Lo Chung-mau made the comment on an RTHK programme, a day after the government launched a public consultation on tobacco control. He said a no-smoking distance of ten-metres from these facilities is currently in the preliminary proposal, adding that there’s also an urgent need to discourage smoking in other public areas.  "A lot of non-smokers have expressed concerns about second-hand smoke from those who walk and smoke in public areas. Since they are constantly moving, the smoke spreads all around," Lo said.  "We understand that implementing new laws will affect how enforcement is done. If we do make restrictions, we will look into enforcement procedures carefully." When asked if strengthening tobacco control will boost the illicit cigarette trade, the health minister said this is a separate issue that needs to be addressed.   He said officials have been doing more to clamp down on illegal tobacco activities, noting that Customs seized over 700 million illicit cigarettes in 2022 – ten times the amount ten years ago.  He stressed illegal cigarettes often contain unknown substances and can potentially be even more harmful to people's health.  "Our publicity materials lay out ways to tackle illicit tobacco, including how to differentiate between legal cigarettes and smuggled ones. This not only helps with law enforcement, but also allows the public to understand what is legal and what is not. I want to stress that the public shouldn't be purchasing illegal cigarettes," he said.  Lo urged people to put forward their views on how best to lower the city's smoking rate.