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Sunday, Dec 22, 2024
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Health chief says increase in tobacco duty a ‘bitter medicine,’ warns against trading of illicit cigarettes
The increase in tobacco duty is a “bitter medicine” that can help smokers reach a win-win situation by improving the health of their own and of their families, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said, as he called on smokers not to buy illicit cigarettes.
Lo stressed that smoking can lead to diseases, including lung cancer – Hong Kong’s number 1 killer disease and about two-thirds of the cases were caused by smoking.
Even after authorities imposed an increase in the tobacco duty, citizens should not illegally buy or trade illicit cigarettes, Lo urged.
Lo continued that Hong Kong’s current smoking prevalence at about 9.5 percent may have been miscalculated as the figures were logged during the pandemic when mask-wearing might inconvenience smokers.
He warned that smoking prevalence may rebound after the mask mandate is lifted and the recent introduction of tobacco duty is necessary.
Lo also said increasing tobacco duty is not the only means for decreasing smoking prevalence, and authorities will initiate consultation on other policies, like banning citizens born after specific years from buying cigarettes forever.
On another note, Lo said the government is now reviewing the pandemic data and will relax the mask mandate as soon as possible.
He added that mask-wearing has saved so many lives in the past three years and believed many citizens will still wear a mask willingly even after the mandate is lifted.
Even after authorities imposed an increase in the tobacco duty, citizens should not illegally buy or trade illicit cigarettes, Lo urged.
Lo continued that Hong Kong’s current smoking prevalence at about 9.5 percent may have been miscalculated as the figures were logged during the pandemic when mask-wearing might inconvenience smokers.
He warned that smoking prevalence may rebound after the mask mandate is lifted and the recent introduction of tobacco duty is necessary.
Lo also said increasing tobacco duty is not the only means for decreasing smoking prevalence, and authorities will initiate consultation on other policies, like banning citizens born after specific years from buying cigarettes forever.
On another note, Lo said the government is now reviewing the pandemic data and will relax the mask mandate as soon as possible.
He added that mask-wearing has saved so many lives in the past three years and believed many citizens will still wear a mask willingly even after the mandate is lifted.
