HONG KONG'S anti-smoking stance hardened yesterday when the Executive Council approved plans to prohibit the sale of cigarettes to youngsters under 18 and ban tobacco advertising in newspapers and magazines.
The decision drew strong opposition from the tobacco industry, which claimed it would further curtail commercial freedom, while advertisers and publishers were concerned that their businesses could be badly hit.
It is understood that Exco members endorsed a series of Health and Welfare Branch recommendations at their meeting on Tuesday, but they refused to cut tobacco sponsorship.
The recommendations adopted include the banning of advertising in publications and for display on billboards, and prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to under 18s.
Other proposals backed by Exco are the mandatory display of signs at restaurants stating whether they have no-smoking areas, and the introduction of health warnings on cigar and pipe tobacco packaging.
But the controversial proposal to restrict the use of cigarette brand names in sponsoring public events was not accepted by Exco.