Tobacco levy 'needed' for smokers to kick habit

Tobacco tax will help people quit smoking and help achieve the government's target of lowering the smoking rate to 7.8 percent by 2025, former secretary for food and health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said.

Speaking on a radio program yesterday, Chan, who is now project director of the University of Hong Kong's Primary Health Care Academy, said it would be hard to lower the smoking rate from the current 9.5 percent to 7.8 percent in two years, without government policy.

Raising the tax on tobacco will be an effective way to encourage citizens to quit smoking according to studies by the World Health Organization and the university, she added.

"The smoking rate now is 9.5 percent, and it will be hard to reduce the rate to 7.8 percent in less than three years. The government should intervene in the situation, especially increasing tobacco tax," she said.

But Chan is sure that the tax hike will not drive citizens to consume illicit cigarettes, as she is confident that the government can combat the problem. She also said the government could expand smoke-free areas to protect non-smokers.

"People usually ignore second-hand smoke issues and I hope the government can attach importance to second-hand and third-hand smoke this time," Chan said. "Previous data also showed that most citizens, including smokers, support expanding the smoke-free areas. So I think the government should try its best as there will be little objection."

The tobacco companies "are strong and have done a lot [to make people keep smoking]," but achieving a 'smoke-free Hong Kong' is the government's major public health strategy and authorities have the responsibility to protect citizens' health and reduce the burden on the healthcare system, Chan said.

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said yesterday that the SAR could raise the tobacco tax, currently at 64 percent, which is far lower than the 75 percent suggested by the WHO.

He also said the government should set up a mechanism to ensure the tobacco tax rate remains unchanged if tobacco companies increase cigarette prices.

Smoking is not a freedom and instead deprives people of the freedom to enjoy fresh air, Lo said.

He added that the smoking rate among Hong Kong women has increased over the past years because tobacco companies added flavors to cigarettes and misled citizens into believing "sugar-coated poison" is not harmful.

Lo admitted that it will be difficult for the SAR to reduce the smoking rate from 9.5 percent to 7.8 percent in 2025, but the government will work hard and is confident of achieving the goal.

Public consultation on tobacco tax policies ends on September 30, with Lo appealing to citizens to provide feedback to the government before the period ends.

In a separate issue, Chan also commented on the orientation camp saga where a 20-year-old HKU student was arrested for indecent assault while some seniors allegedly smoked marijuana.

Chan, a professor of the university's School of Nursing, said a probe is ongoing. If criminal behavior is found to have been committed in the camp, the university would have "zero tolerance" and deal with the students seriously, she said.

"We hope students can acquire knowledge and gain different life experiences at universities, but they have to obey the law," Chan said.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com