http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/country/hong_kong.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=c23d9e2fe1aca110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Hong%20Kong&s=News http://tobacco.org/news/268159.html A Democratic lawmaker's proposal to offer smoking offenders a quit course would require the government to pay half the cost of treatment, the Food and Health Bureau says. Andrew Cheng Kar-foo made the suggestion last week in an amendment to the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance as the Legislative Council considered a government plan to introduce a HK$1,500 fixed penalty for offenders. South China Morning Post Hong Kong Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=879b8dd61ceda110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Hong%20Kong&s=News http://tobacco.org/news/268158.html Legislative Council president Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai has rejected a proposed amendment to the anti-smoking law that would allow people caught puffing illegally to spend the amount of the penalty on a course to help them kick the habit. The amendment, proposed by democratic legislator Andrew Cheng Kar-foo, was to have been raised for discussion in Legco today. But Mrs Fan dismissed the amendment as irrelevant to the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Bill, which proposes a fine of HK$1,500 for smoking in places where it is banned. South China Morning Post Hong Kong Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=ff70f554014ea110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Hong%20Kong&s=News http://tobacco.org/news/268157.html A bill to impose a fixed-penalty fine on people caught illegally lighting up under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance was passed by the Legislative Council yesterday. Smokers caught in no-smoking areas will be given a fixed fine of HK$1,500, to be settled within 21 days. If the offenders fail to settle the fine in time, they will receive a letter requiring payment within another 10 days. But if they still fail to do so, a court order will be issued. The bill also gave officers of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Housing Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department the power to issue the tickets South China Morning Post Hong Kong Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/110273.php http://tobacco.org/news/268156.html The study provides information on the smoking habits of Hong Kong Chinese couples during pregnancy and finds smoking during pregnancy to be an emerging health issue among Chinese women. Smoking significantly increases the fetal risks and neonatal hazards. Although the Chinese women had a higher cessation rate during pregnancy than Caucasian figures, their relapse smoking rate was similar after delivery. Medical News TODAY Hong Kong Sat, 07 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/healthandcommunity/080618/html/080618en05010.htm http://tobacco.org/news/267278.html Smoking ban sees 6,600 convictions Police and Tobacco Control officers have issued 9,851 summonses for smoking ban violations, seeing 6, 635 court convictions. news.gov.hk Hong Kong Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=a241931a6b69a110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&= http://tobacco.org/news/267235.html Jun 18, 2008 * The appeal court yesterday rejected an application by the director of a tobacco company - who has absconded - to argue in the top court against the continuation of his criminal trial in the District Court. The challenge was mounted after lawyers cited what they said was a deliberate breach of legal privilege, by anti-corruption officers who bugged the office of a defendant, as grounds for halting the trial. The trial judge rejected that argument, and a subsequent request for a judicial review of that decision was also rejected. Lu Dayong, 57, former executive director of Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Co Ltd, failed to appear last week at a District Court hearing on his alleged involvement in the illegal smuggling of Double Happiness cigarettes. A warrant for his arrest was issued. South China Morning Post Hong Kong Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/20080611/news_20080611_56_497075.htm http://tobacco.org/news/266870.html The District Court has issued an arrest warrant for a former tobacco executive, for skipping a court hearing this morning. Lu Dayong, the former chairman of Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company Limited, is accused of accepting bribes in return for supplying cigarettes to Mainland smugglers. Radio Television Hong Kong China Hong Kong Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=615884 http://tobacco.org/news/266065.html In addition to developing asthma and respiratory infections, children in households where someone smokes are more likely to catch a whole range of severe infections, including meningococcal disease. Many even have to be hospitalized, a new study found. Being around smoke during the first few months of life was most dangerous, especially if the newborn was born underweight or premature. "This is just adding to the list of why people should not be smoking," said Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "It's probably that smoking is not just a respiratory irritant, but many things in smoke affect the immune system." The ill effects of secondhand smoke on people of all ages is well known. As more bans are put in place, children -- and others -- are exposed less and less to secondhand smoke in public places. But secondhand smoke in the home is another matter, according to the study authors, from the University of Hong Kong, whose findings are published online May 28 in the journal Tobacco Control. HealthDay [HealthScout] editors@healthday.com (Amanda Gardner HealthDay Reporter) Hong Kong Wed, 28 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/GeneralPediatrics/tb/9622 http://tobacco.org/news/266064.html Exposure to second-hand smoke during infancy significantly increases the risk of severe infection requiring hospitalization later in childhood, investigators here have found. The risk was greatest in the first six months of life, C. Mary Schooling, Ph.D., of the University of Hong Kong, and colleagues reported online in Tobacco Control. Among high-risk infants, such as those who are premature, the increased risk of severe infection persisted until age eight years. "Reducing household [second-hand smoke] exposure in infants and particularly in more vulnerable infants can reduce infectious morbidity and corresponding hospital use," the authors concluded. "Policy options to protect infants and children from household [second-hand smoke] exposure should be implemented." MedPage Today Hong Kong Wed, 28 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/541107/ http://tobacco.org/news/265964.html Children exposed to second hand tobacco smoke are more likely to get severe infectious diseases and have to be admitted to hospital, finds research published online ahead of print in Tobacco Control. These children are at greater risk of a whole range of infectious illnesses, such as meningococcal disease, and not just respiratory illness, the results showed. Exposure to smoke in the first few months of life did the most harm, especially if they had a low birth weight or had been born prematurely. The researchers assessed the relationship between second hand smoke exposure and first admission to hospital for any infectious illness for 7,402 children born in Hong Kong in April and May 1997. The children were followed until they were eight. Children who lived in the household of someone who smoked within three metres of them during their first few months of life were the most at risk of being admitted to hospital with one in three admitted by the age of 12 months. The earlier the exposure to smoke the more profound the effect . . . Click here to view the paper in full: http://press.psprings.co.uk/tc/may/tc23887.pdf Newswise Hong Kong Mon, 26 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1022067/Babies-exposed-passive-smoking-risk-catching-meningitis-scepticaemia.html http://tobacco.org/news/265963.html A third of babies whose parents smoke at home end up in hospital before their first birthday, researchers say. They found that passive smoking weakens youngsters' immune systems and puts them at higher risk of potentially lethal infectious diseases such as blood poisoning and meningitis. Children are most vulnerable in the first few months of life, especially babies of low birthweight or those born prematurely. The Mail Hong Kong Tue, 27 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/05/27/meningitis-risk-rockets-if-you-smoke-near-children-89520-20430901/ http://tobacco.org/news/265962.html Second-hand smoke leaves kids more prone to killer diseases such as meningitis, scientists say. One in three babies raised within 10ft of cigarette fumes needs hospital treatment by their first birthday. Those exposed in their first six months are 45 per cent likelier to be admitted with infections such as meningitis and septicaemia by the time they are eight. Smokers' kids are also at greater risk of respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma. But Hong Kong experts fear fumes also hit immune systems. Dr Catherine Mary Schooling said: "Second-hand smoke in early infancy increases severe infectious illnesses requiring hospital admission." The Mirror Hong Kong Tue, 27 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/2008/05/27/new-passive-smoking-warning-for-kids-86908-20430727/ http://tobacco.org/news/265961.html CHILDREN exposed to passive smoking are more likely to suffer severe illnesses, researchers said yesterday. They found one in three babies who had people smoking in their home ended up in hospital by their first birthday. And they found the children of smokers were 45 per cent more likely to pick up an infectious disease by age eight. Dr Mary Schooling, of the University of Hong Kong, said: "Second-hand smoke may affect the immune system, as well as the respiratory system." Daily Record and Sunday Mail Hong Kong Tue, 27 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/lawandorder/080508/html/080508en08011.htm http://tobacco.org/news/264953.html Prohibited parcels: Customs officers have seized 950,0000 illicit cigarettes worth $1.5 million and with a duty potential of $770,000 at the Air Mail Centre. Customs officers have arrested three people in Hong Kong's largest illicit cigarette seizure so far this year. In a special operation from April 22 to May 5, officers seized 950,0000 illicit cigarettes worth $1.5 million and with a duty potential of $770,000 at the Air Mail Centre. news.gov.hk Hong Kong Thu, 08 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=f4cb242d9ac59110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&= http://tobacco.org/news/263858.html Senior government officials are being chummy with tobacco industry insiders who have infiltrated the administration, even using the industry's stock phrases to rationalise why Hong Kong has not increased tobacco duties, international experts said yesterday. David Simpson, former director of Action on Smoking and Health UK who recommended the setting up of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, said his main concern for Hong Kong was "that tobacco industry people have taken positions in influential places where in my view they should not be permitted to be". He pointed to government officials using the phrase "people who choose to smoke". "For example, we heard that at quite senior level in a private conversation, a senior government official was saying it is difficult to ask taxpayers to foot the bill when people choose to smoke," Dr Simpson, director of the International Agency on Tobacco and Health, said. "Why should taxpayers have to pay for the cost of enticing them to quit?" he said, adding: "There is only one source of the phrase `choose to smoke'." South China Morning Post Hong Kong Fri, 18 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT