Stop Smoking for Our
Children's Sake
- Press Conference on 29 May 2002
Press Conference on 29th May 2002
jointly hosted by Hong Kong College of Paediatricians,
Hong Kong Paediatric Society,
and Hong Kong Society of Paediatric Respirology
Title: Stop Smoking for Our Children's Sake
Our Stand
- We denounce tobacco smoking in any environment with children because of
its effects on the child's health and future.
- Our research, coupled with data generated from overseas, have revealed
convincing evidence that second hand smoking causes overwhelming effects on
children.
- Such effects pose a highly significant burden on our health care system,
not to mention the economic effects on the rest of the family.
- We therefore urge the Government, medical and health professionals, and
the public to pay special attention to the effects of smoking on children.
- We support the Government's attempts to ban smoking in all public places
and in-door environments where children are present.
- We urge all medical professionals to join hands in persuading smoking parents
to quit smoking for their children's' sake, and be alert to the possible effects
of passive smoking on children's health.
- We are deeply concerned about the rising numbers of teenage smokers in
Hong Kong, and feel that the Government and the public should join hands to
prevent young people from starting to smoke. This would require serious efforts
to counteract the effects of advertisements targeting at young people.
- We are aware that the smoking cessation clinics run by the Hospital Authority
are providing valuable help to adults who want to quit smoking. But for those
teenagers who may want to quit, these clinics may not be able to cater to
their styles and needs.
Our Proposals
- We urge the Government, the Legislative Council, and all other bodies concerned
to make it possible to ban smoking in all public places and in-door environments
including restaurants, so as to minimise the effect of passive smoking on
children.
- The 3 bodies have collaborated to form a Paediatric Anti-smoking Task Force
to look into the matter. 'A Doctor's Anti-smoking Kit' will be prepared to
help doctors understand the magnitude of the problem, and to help them to
present the case of quiting smoking to the parents. All doctors who take care
of children would be asked to participate.
- We also urge the Government and public bodies concerned to pay special
attention to the effects of tobacco advertisements on teenagers, and to institute
attempts to counteract such effects.
- Efforts should also be made to help teenagers to quit smoking if they so
wish. We would urge the Government to establish special smoking cessation
clinics for teenagers as this group of individuals require different approaches
and treatment methods apart from adult smokers.
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