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Following is a question by the Hon Wong Ting-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (October 26):
Question:
A survey conducted by the Census and Statistics Department between October and December 2010 revealed that the prevalence of daily cigarette smokers aged 15 or above was 11.1% in 2010, which is slightly lower than the 12% in 2009, yet, the number of young smokers among these people increased significantly by 40% while the number of smokers over 60 years old also increased by 5% instead of decreasing. The Financial Secretary has raised the tobacco duty in the 2011-2012 financial year by 41.5%. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) how the smoking population in this financial year up to the present compares with that of the same period last year, and list the relevant data by age group distribution;
(b) whether the authorities have assessed the reasons for the substantial increase in the number of young smokers by 40% in last year; whether they have followed up the problem; if they have, of the specific measures; if not, the reasons for that;
(c) whether it knows how the number of requests for assistance received by TWGHs Integrated Centre on Smoking Cessation in this year up to the present compares with that of the same period last year; of the current operation of the Centre, and whether additional resources will be allocated to the Centre in anticipation of an increase in the number of cases requiring cessation support; if so, of the details; and
(d) given that according to the relevant data, in the past two years, one-third of smokers had attempted to give up smoking but failed, whether the authorities have compiled statistics on the number of those among these smokers who had repeatedly tried to give up smoking but failed, and of the percentage of such number in the relevant total number; whether the authorities have looked into the reasons and offered assistance to these smokers; if they have, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government surveys smoking prevalence in the population from time to time. The last two surveys on the smoking prevalence in the population aged 15 and above were conducted from October 2010 to December 2010 and from November 2009 to February 2010 respectively by the Census and Statistics Department. The smoking prevalence by age groups as found in these two surveys are at Table. The statistics show that the proportion of persons who had a daily smoking habit among all persons aged 15 and above dropped from 12.0% (698,700) to 11.1% (657,000). All age groups saw a significant drop in smoking prevalence except the age groups of age 60 or above and age 15 to 19.
The latest smoking prevalence in the age group of 15 to 19 was 2.5% (10,800 persons), reflecting an increase when compared with the 1.8% (7,700 persons) found in the previous survey. This might not reflect the actual situation due to the small statistical base. Moreover, the consumption of cigarettes among this group of daily smokers dropped from 10.8 sticks per day in 2009/10 to 8.6 sticks per day in 2010. Meanwhile, the survey specifically conducted by the School of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong on the proportion of student smokers over a longer period of time revealed a sustained drop in the proportion of smokers among Form 1 to Form 5 students, from 9.6% in 2003/04 to 6.9% in 2007/08 and dropping further to 3.4% in 2010/11.
The Government has all along adopted measures to effectively control the use of tobacco, in order to reduce the hazard of tobacco and prevent youngsters from picking up the smoking habit. By encouraging smokers, especially youngsters, to quit smoking as early as possible, it can improve their health and that of their families, and also relieve the healthcare and economic burdens on the community in the long run. We will continue to strengthen publicity and education, so as to reduce the chances of youngsters being exposed to second-hand smoking and picking up the smoking habit.
My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(a) Please refer to the Table. As a new round of survey on smoking prevalence will only commence in late 2011, we do not yet have the relevant data for this financial year.
(b) The Government has been adopting a progressive and multi-pronged approach comprising legislation, taxation, publicity, education, enforcement and promotion of smoking cessation services to reduce youth smoking and prevent youngsters from contacting cigarettes and picking up the smoking habit.
On promotion and education, the Tobacco Control Office under the Department of Health (DH) has endeavoured to enhance the awareness of youngsters on the harmfulness of smoking, prevent them from picking up the smoking habit, and encourage smokers to quit smoking through various channels and avenues such as enquiry hotline, promotion campaigns, on-line games, health education materials and seminars. In August 2011, DH launched a smartphone application for smoking cessation for free download by the public. In parallel, the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health continues its education and publicity efforts at kindergartens, primary and secondary schools through production of guidelines and exhibition boards on implementation of tobacco control measures in schools, health talks and theatre programmes etc.
Since June this year, the Government has provided funding to the School of Nursing of the University of Hong Kong for establishment of the Hong Kong Youth Quitline, which aims to provide counselling to young smokers aged 18 to 25 over the phone. DH also works with Po Leung Kuk and the Life Education Activity Programme to organise health promotional activities at schools for promotion of a smoke-free culture.
The Government will closely monitor the trend of smoking prevalence (including young smokers), and continue to deploy resources for promotion of a smoke-free culture in joint efforts with community organisations, in order to enhance the awareness of youngsters on the harmfulness of smoking and prevent them from picking up the smoking habit.
(c) Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) has been granted funding by DH since January 2009 to launch a community-based smoking cessation programme. At present, TWGHs has established five integrated centres on smoking cessation. Between January and September 2011, the smoking cessation programme of TWGHs has provided services for 2,013 smokers, which is twice the number for the same period in 2010. To enhance the existing smoking cessation services, the Government has provided additional resources to TWGHs for establishment of the sixth integrated centre on smoking cessation, so as to provide services for more smokers who intend to quit smoking.
(d) According to the survey on the smoking population conducted by the Census and Statistics Department between October and December 2010, 33.2% of daily cigarette smokers had tried to give up smoking but failed. We do not have the statistics on the number of smokers among these smokers who had made repeated attempts to give up smoking but failed. However, according to local and overseas experience, most smokers need to make several attempts to give up smoking before they can quit smoking successfully.
The survey also found that the two most commonly cited reasons for failure to give up smoking were related to psychological factors, such as "cigarette smoking had formed a habit" and "not determined enough" which accounted for 54.4% and 44.6% respectively.
Provision of proper psychological counselling for quitters is an integral part of the whole smoking cessation programme. A study has confirmed that providing quitters with counselling treatment, or even just some simple advice on quitting can effectively boost the success rate of smoking cessation. DH has set up an integrated smoking cessation hotline (1833 183) for provision of smoking cessation information and psychological counselling for callers. The hotline is manned by registered nurses who provide callers with counselling treatment over the phone to enhance smokers' motivation and determination to quit smoking. In addition, the nurses will call back the smokers and follow up on their progress on smoking cessation, so as to enhance their chances of success in quitting smoking.
Under the smoking cessation programme run by TWGHs, the service team is also comprised of clinical psychologists, social workers and counsellors for provision of targeted counselling treatment for quitters in addition to the relevant services provided by doctors and nurses. Such counselling treatment can enhance and strengthen the quitters' determination to give up smoking and boost the success rate of smoking cessation.
In addition, the Government has substantially increased the resources for smoking cessation services with a twofold increase from $21 million to $42 million in this financial year. Our tobacco control will focus on promotion of smoking cessation as well as provision and promotion of smoking cessation services. The Government will continue to closely monitor the demand for smoking cessation services and their effectiveness. Additional resources will be provided for smoking cessation services where necessary.
Ends/Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:58
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