A ban on smoking in restaurants and other indoor venues would inconvenience smokers but it would motivate them to quit the habit, a health expert said yesterday.
Lam Tai-hing, chair professor and head of the community medicine department at the University of Hong Kong, urged the government to impose the ban as soon as possible to protect public health and help smokers to quit.
The Legislative Council is scrutinising government proposals to ban smoking in all restaurants, billiard rooms, karaoke lounges and bars open to all age groups by January 1. Under the proposals, bars open to people over 18, mahjong parlours and clubs, bathhouses and nightclubs will be smoke-free by July 1, 2009.
'As Hong Kong has lagged behind other countries in banning smoking, the motivation for Hong Kong smokers [to stop] is much less than in other places,' Professor Lam told a news conference on the university's smoking reduction programme.
The programme, which was started in October 2004, was established by the university in conjunction with the Hospital Authority and the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health.
The programme has recruited 640 smokers who on average smoke 20 cigarettes every day. The programme aims to recruit 3,000 smokers within two years and is free of charge.
