This week: Facing mortality
California recently passed a law that bans the use of trans-fats in restaurants and baked goods. It's a great idea and highlights the weak health policies we have in Hong Kong, especially considering the recently passed but greatly weakened food-labelling law. I understand the hands-off approach of our government when it comes to economic policy. This freedom has helped create our thriving economy, with its multitude of businesses.
But when it comes to issues of health, there should be no business or market freedom.
It is rarely in the interest of business to promote public health, apart from medical professionals who directly benefit from it. Simply put, things that are bad for you are usually tastier, more convenient, stylish, cheap or easy. These values make selling a fatty burger much easier than a salad sandwich. If left to the open market, the fatty burger would probably win and the salad sandwich would forever be in the niche market.
The same analogy can be applied to many other things, and this is where the government should govern. It should protect its citizens from unscrupulous business practices that adversely affect public health. It should always lean on the side of caution rather than ban something only if that something goes wrong. There should be no benefit of the doubt. If in doubt, ban it until it is proven safe.
Sure, it will upset some people but, to use a common government slogan, 'We will allow the market to adjust itself.'