APRIL 12, 1996 A proposed ban on indirect advertising, which includes sponsorship, is removed from the Executive Council draft bill after complaints from the tobacco industry. The Tobacco Institute threatens to take the Government to court, claiming the measures contravened the territory's Bill of Rights.
JUNE 2, 1996 Anti-smoking campaigners say plans for the Exco to reject tobacco advertising legislation for a second time are 'unthinkable'.
The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health calls on the Government to follow the example of other countries by replacing tobacco sponsorship with a tax levy to support sport and cultural events.
Professor Judith Mackay of the Asian Consultancy on Tobacco Control says they are behind achieving the World Health Organisation's goals.
JANUARY 15, 1997 Dr Leong Che-hong puts forward a motion in the Legislative Council to ban tobacco advertising and sponsorship.
MARCH 12, 1997 Sports Development Board (SDB) chief executive Andrew Ma describes proposals to ban tobacco sponsorship as 'hypocritical'. He says he finds it difficult to see how the Government can ban tobacco sponsorship when the produce is not outrightly prohibited.
He vows the SDB will find alternative forms of backing should the Government endorse the tobacco sponsorship prohibition.