Press Releases
Women's Commission Endorsed the Administration's Proposed Amendments to the Smoking Ordinance
The Women's Commission met on September 11 this year to discuss the consultation document on proposed legislative amendments to Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance as well as women-related health services and programmes provided by the Department of Health.
Commission members noted that the health hazards of smoking on women were more profound and longer term than on men. They expressed concern over the increasing trend of women, especially younger women, smoking in Hong Kong, and that the tobacco industry was targeting women in their marketing efforts.
Currently, about 3.5 per cent of the female population aged above 15, or some 100,000 women, are regular smokers. This represents a 21 per cent increase when compared with the number of women smokers in 1998. The increase among young smokers is particularly high: the smoking prevalence for girls aged between 15 and 19 has doubled from 1.3 per cent in 1998 to 2.6 per cent in 2000.
The Women's Commission therefore considered smoking as a women's issue. They urged the Government to step up action on anti-smoking. "The Women's Commission is prepared to work with the Administration and the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health in organising educational and publicity programmes to discourage smoking amongst women," Mrs Sophie Leung, Chairperson of the Commission said. "We also encourage the Administration to provide more facilities to help smokers quit the habit."
Members were also of the view that the proposed legislative amendments in respect of smoking ban in indoor public premises, such as restaurants, bars and karaokes could enhance the protection of non-smokers (many of whom were women and children) against passive smoking. "It is well-proven that prolonged exposure to secondhand smoking can cause many serious illnesses. The Women's Commission is therefore in support of measures that could help prevent such undesirable effects," Mrs Leung said.
On health services and programmes, Commission members noted that the Department of Health provides a number of health promotion programmes including family planning, breast awareness promotion, breastfeeding, positive parenting and healthy lifestyles. Members expressed that women were facing increasing stress and tension and many had stress management problems.
"Women have different health needs at different stages of life. As we have been thinking of ways to empower women to enable them to participate fully in various aspects of life, we believe that it is important to look into women's health and ensure that appropriate programmes and services are put in place to meet their needs," Mrs Sophie Leung, said.
The Commission supported the Administration's plan to enhance the coverage of cervical screening services by developing a territory-wide screening programme. "We will work with the working group on universal cervical screening to ensure that the design and implementation of the service is sensitive to women's needs," Mrs Leung said.
The Commission also supported the Administration's proposal to extend women health services in existing Women Health Centres to Maternal and Child Health Centres as it would help increase the accessibility of such important services.
End/Thursday, September 13, 2001
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