The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, the other day (September 25) consulted with the brand-new Head of the Secretariat of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Mr Andrew Black, for a thorough exchange on tobacco control work.

Mr Black presumed workplace as the Head of the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC on August 1 this year. Dr Lam invited Mr Black and revealed gratitude for his taking time out of a hectic schedule to go to the Department of Health (DH) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to exchange views on the current development and techniques in tobacco control work.

Dr Lam stated, “We are very honoured to receive Mr Black and representatives of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA). The HKSAR Government has been advancing tobacco control through a science-based, public-oriented, multi-pronged and progressive approach. The HKSAR Government’s strategy in tackling alternative smoking products (ASPs), including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes, is to nip the problem in the bud, by preventing ASPs from taking root in Hong Kong, and tackling at source the use of ASPs for drug inhalation. To this end, the HKSAR Government banned the import, manufacture, promotion and sale of ASPs, as well as the possession of ASPs for commercial purposes, more than four years ago. To further strengthen the control of ASPs, the Government has, since April 30 this year, prohibited the possession of ASPs in public places to prevent their local circulation in any form and to further prevent the younger generation from becoming addicted to smoking.”

“Hong Kong’s tobacco control journey is the culmination of decades of concerted efforts to build a comprehensive tobacco control strategy through multi-pronged measures. Adopting a whole-of-society approach, the Government has successfully lowered our smoking prevalence to 8.5 per cent in 2025, which is among the lowest in the world. The HKSAR Government will continue to implement the ’10 measures for tobacco control’. The full implementation of plain packaging requirement and the duty stamp system for conventional smoking products will be completed by the end of next year. The relevant subsidiary legislation was gazetted on September 11. Following the implementation of these two measures, the Government will proceed with implementation of a ban on flavoured smoking products,” Dr Lam included.

Mr Black kept in mind that Hong Kong’s tobacco control policies have actually long been carefully lined up with the FCTC, and provided high acknowledgment to Hong Kong’s efforts and accomplishments in tobacco control. He particularly explained that Hong Kong’s experience is extremely important as a referral for other jurisdictions. He revealed strong assistance for Hong Kong’s upcoming procedures, consisting of plain product packaging requirement for standard smoking cigarettes items, the responsibility stamp system and a restriction on flavoured smoking cigarettes items.

In addition, Mr Black applauded the contribution made by the DH as a WHO Collaborating Centre on Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence. The DH has, given that 2012, routinely offered training for tobacco control workers in the Western Pacific Region. It likewise frequently arranges training on smoking cigarettes cessation treatment and Chinese medication acupuncture for cigarette smoking cessation services for the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, working as a local center in tobacco control and smoking cigarettes cessation.

The Executive Director of SEATCA, Dr Ulysses Dorotheo; Programme Manager of SEATCA, Ms Irene Reyes; Professor and Director of the Primary Health Care Academy of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Sophia Chan; the Controller of Regulatory Affairs of the DH, Dr Fung Ying; and the Head of the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the DH, Dr Manny Lam, likewise participated in the conference.