Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ8: Tobacco control measures
Following is a question by the Hon Wong Ting-kwong and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today
(October 26):
Question:
A survey conducted by the Census and Statistics Department between October and
December 2010 revealed that the prevalence of daily cigarette smokers aged 15 or
above was 11.1% in 2010, which is slightly lower than the 12% in 2009, yet, the
number of young smokers among these people increased significantly by 40% while
the number of smokers over 60 years old also increased by 5% instead of
decreasing. The Financial Secretary has raised the tobacco duty in the 2011-2012
financial year by 41.5%. In this connection, will the Government inform this
Council:
(a) how the smoking population in this financial year up to the present compares
with that of the same period last year, and list the relevant data by age group
distribution;
(b) whether the authorities have assessed the reasons for the substantial
increase in the number of young smokers by 40% in last year; whether they have
followed up the problem; if they have, of the specific measures; if not, the
reasons for that;
(c) whether it knows how the number of requests for assistance received by TWGHs
Integrated Centre on Smoking Cessation in this year up to the present compares
with that of the same period last year; of the current operation of the Centre,
and whether additional resources will be allocated to the Centre in anticipation
of an increase in the number of cases requiring cessation support; if so, of the
details; and
(d) given that according to the relevant data, in the past two years, one-third
of smokers had attempted to give up smoking but failed, whether the authorities
have compiled statistics on the number of those among these smokers who had
repeatedly tried to give up smoking but failed, and of the percentage of such
number in the relevant total number; whether the authorities have looked into
the reasons and offered assistance to these smokers; if they have, of the
details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government surveys smoking prevalence in the population from time to time.
The last two surveys on the smoking prevalence in the population aged 15 and
above were conducted from October 2010 to December 2010 and from November 2009
to February 2010 respectively by the Census and Statistics Department. The
smoking prevalence by age groups as found in these two surveys are at Table. The
statistics show that the proportion of persons who had a daily smoking habit
among all persons aged 15 and above dropped from 12.0% (698,700) to 11.1%
(657,000). All age groups saw a significant drop in smoking prevalence except
the age groups of age 60 or above and age 15 to 19.
The latest smoking prevalence in the age group of 15 to 19 was 2.5% (10,800
persons), reflecting an increase when compared with the 1.8% (7,700 persons)
found in the previous survey. This might not reflect the actual situation due to
the small statistical base. Moreover, the consumption of cigarettes among this
group of daily smokers dropped from 10.8 sticks per day in 2009/10 to 8.6 sticks
per day in 2010. Meanwhile, the survey specifically conducted by the School of
Public Health of the University of Hong Kong on the proportion of student
smokers over a longer period of time revealed a sustained drop in the proportion
of smokers among Form 1 to Form 5 students, from 9.6% in 2003/04 to 6.9% in
2007/08 and dropping further to 3.4% in 2010/11.
The Government has all along adopted measures to effectively control the use of
tobacco, in order to reduce the hazard of tobacco and prevent youngsters from
picking up the smoking habit. By encouraging smokers, especially youngsters, to
quit smoking as early as possible, it can improve their health and that of their
families, and also relieve the healthcare and economic burdens on the community
in the long run. We will continue to strengthen publicity and education, so as
to reduce the chances of youngsters being exposed to second-hand smoking and
picking up the smoking habit.
My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(a) Please refer to the Table. As a new round of survey on smoking prevalence
will only commence in late 2011, we do not yet have the relevant data for this
financial year.
(b) The Government has been adopting a progressive and multi-pronged approach
comprising legislation, taxation, publicity, education, enforcement and
promotion of smoking cessation services to reduce youth smoking and prevent
youngsters from contacting cigarettes and picking up the smoking habit.
On promotion and education, the Tobacco Control Office under the Department of
Health (DH) has endeavoured to enhance the awareness of youngsters on the
harmfulness of smoking, prevent them from picking up the smoking habit, and
encourage smokers to quit smoking through various channels and avenues such as
enquiry hotline, promotion campaigns, on-line games, health education materials
and seminars. In August 2011, DH launched a smartphone application for smoking
cessation for free download by the public. In parallel, the Hong Kong Council on
Smoking and Health continues its education and publicity efforts at
kindergartens, primary and secondary schools through production of guidelines
and exhibition boards on implementation of tobacco control measures in schools,
health talks and theatre programmes etc.
Since June this year, the Government has provided funding to the School of
Nursing of the University of Hong Kong for establishment of the Hong Kong Youth
Quitline, which aims to provide counselling to young smokers aged 18 to 25 over
the phone. DH also works with Po Leung Kuk and the Life Education Activity
Programme to organise health promotional activities at schools for promotion of
a smoke-free culture.
The Government will closely monitor the trend of smoking prevalence (including
young smokers), and continue to deploy resources for promotion of a smoke-free
culture in joint efforts with community organisations, in order to enhance the
awareness of youngsters on the harmfulness of smoking and prevent them from
picking up the smoking habit.
(c) Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) has been granted funding by DH since
January 2009 to launch a community-based smoking cessation programme. At
present, TWGHs has established five integrated centres on smoking cessation.
Between January and September 2011, the smoking cessation programme of TWGHs has
provided services for 2,013 smokers, which is twice the number for the same
period in 2010. To enhance the existing smoking cessation services, the
Government has provided additional resources to TWGHs for establishment of the
sixth integrated centre on smoking cessation, so as to provide services for more
smokers who intend to quit smoking.
(d) According to the survey on the smoking population conducted by the Census
and Statistics Department between October and December 2010, 33.2% of daily
cigarette smokers had tried to give up smoking but failed. We do not have the
statistics on the number of smokers among these smokers who had made repeated
attempts to give up smoking but failed. However, according to local and overseas
experience, most smokers need to make several attempts to give up smoking before
they can quit smoking successfully.
The survey also found that the two most commonly cited reasons for failure to
give up smoking were related to psychological factors, such as "cigarette
smoking had formed a habit" and "not determined enough" which accounted for
54.4% and 44.6% respectively.
Provision of proper psychological counselling for quitters is an integral part
of the whole smoking cessation programme. A study has confirmed that providing
quitters with counselling treatment, or even just some simple advice on quitting
can effectively boost the success rate of smoking cessation. DH has set up an
integrated smoking cessation hotline (1833 183) for provision of smoking
cessation information and psychological counselling for callers. The hotline is
manned by registered nurses who provide callers with counselling treatment over
the phone to enhance smokers' motivation and determination to quit smoking. In
addition, the nurses will call back the smokers and follow up on their progress
on smoking cessation, so as to enhance their chances of success in quitting
smoking.
Under the smoking cessation programme run by TWGHs, the service team is also
comprised of clinical psychologists, social workers and counsellors for
provision of targeted counselling treatment for quitters in addition to the
relevant services provided by doctors and nurses. Such counselling treatment can
enhance and strengthen the quitters' determination to give up smoking and boost
the success rate of smoking cessation.
In addition, the Government has substantially increased the resources for
smoking cessation services with a twofold increase from $21 million to $42
million in this financial year. Our tobacco control will focus on promotion of
smoking cessation as well as provision and promotion of smoking cessation
services. The Government will continue to closely monitor the demand for smoking
cessation services and their effectiveness. Additional resources will be
provided for smoking cessation services where necessary.
Ends/Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:58
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