Lai See | Legco advisers to tobacco groups should declare their interest

In 2005, China signed the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and Hong Kong and Macau became indirect parties to the convention.

One of the key guidelines is that governing bodies "should ensure that interaction with the tobacco industry on matters related to tobacco control or public health is accountable and transparent". So it is disappointing to see Legislative Council members that act as honorary consultants to tobacco groups do not appear to be required to disclose their connections to these organisations.

Wong Ting-kwong and Vincent Fang Kang are honorary consultants to the Tobacco Concern Control Group, while Paul Tse Wai-chun is an honorary adviser for Hong Kong United Against Illicit Tobacco.

Both groups have close links to the tobacco industry and focus their efforts on trying to persuade the government not to raise taxes on tobacco. They say higher prices encourage the growth of illicit tobacco. But the WHO and World Bank say this standard argument from tobacco groups is bogus and have stated that taxation is the most effective means of stopping youth smoking by limiting affordability and at the same time persuading adult smokers to give up the habit.

Wong and Fang declined to say if they were involved with tobacco groups, although Tse admitted it, saying: "I take issue with the government's using the tactic of imposing hefty increases of tobacco excise as means to reduce local consumption of cigarettes. Not only is the effect of this tactic questionable, it may be unduly oppressive to the underprivileged yet die-hard smokers." He also says he is a non-smoker and does not encourage smoking especially among teenagers.

We would argue that it is inappropriate for any legislator to be an adviser, whether paid or otherwise, to an industry whose products are proven to kill people, addicts children to nicotine, that costs the government billions of dollars in medical care and which seriously impedes productivity. Tobacco kills one in two users.