Tobacco.org

• Smoking-ban bill leaves firm fuming 

To the irritation of Hong Kong's non- smoking advocates, a Japanese tobacco company says it is considering legal action against the government for allegedly breaching the Basic Law and the Bill of Rights over a proposed smoking ban.

Japan Tobacco, the maker of Mild Seven cigarettes, said Thursday the smoking-ban bill will force it to change the name of its popular brand because of a clause outlawing the use of descriptions such as "light" and "mild" on cigarette packaging.

But Hong Kong University chair professor of community medicine Anthony Hedley said it is just another complaint by tobacco companies.

"The industry will argue against every part of the legislation," he said, urging the government to push the legislation forward.

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