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Butts Out in Hong Kong
By Agnes Chen, Hong Kong
It has been over 10 months since the Hong Kong government launched the Smoke-free Hong Kong campaign. Despite a wide divergence of public opinion, new legislation was passed on Jan. 1 (2007) designating the workplace, restaurants, shops, and other public areas smoke-free. Those who violate the new law will be fined up to HK$5000.
"The world is trying to help smokers kick the habit. Indeed, smoke-free policies are becoming an international trend." -Agnes Chen
Many people are happy that they can now go out to restaurants without worrying about being victimized by harmful second hand smoke but others demonstrated strong opposition, saying their freedom to smoke was infringed by the government that ought to be protecting their personal freedom of choice.
"We non-smokers should be protected from passive smoking," said one university student named Daniel. "Smokers put the health of the public at great risk."
The government has done a great job enforcing the legislation, which came about when the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health reported that smoking kills 16 persons in Hong Kong every day.
But despite the fact that people know smoking is a fatal habit, some young people can't quit the habit. The University of Hong Kong used to have a smoking area for students and staff who smoke and that tiny area was usually packed with young smokers. However, in an effort to promote the anti-smoking campaign, the designated smoking area does not exist anymore. Instead, young people who want to smoke must go to nightpubs and bars to enjoy their cigarettes.
Perhaps because the drinking age in Hong Kong is 18, Hong Kong's nightpubs and bars tend to be filled with many young people who smoke who are visiting from foreign countries like the UK and the US where the drinking age is 21.
Others, who may have started smoking socially as a teen, are more likely to become regular smokers as it's hard to quit the habit. Some girls told me that smoking helps them to lose weight because it helps them lose their appetite.
But the world is trying to help smokers kick the habit. Indeed, smoke-free policies are becoming an international trend. Last Aug., Denmark imposed a ban on smoking in public places, England introduced a new law prohibiting smoking in enclosed public places, and France recently passed a law prohibiting smoking in indoor environments.
Additional legislation will be drafted by the Hong Kong government in 2009, when the 'Smoke-free' campaign will extend to bars, nightclubs, bathhouses, and elsewhere. The response to this legislative move will be interesting considering the customers of these establishments. But one thing is for sure - Hong Kong has taken a brave first step in creating healthier living environments!
