About two-thirds of smokers will either reduce or quit their habit if cigarette prices are raised, a group urging authorities to double the tobacco tax has said, citing research from a university in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health on Tuesday pointed to a phone survey carried out by the University of Hong Kong that found 76.4% of respondents supported increasing the tobacco tax next year.
Last month, the council proposed raising the current tax on a pack of cigarettes from HK$38 (US$5) to HK$76, which would drive up the price to HK$100 next year.
Hong Kong is running at the front in the smoking-free cause of the world. Prior to the council's pricing consideration, Hong Kong is "considering a bold tobacco endgame strategy" of banning cigarette sales to people born after a certain year, Council on Smoking and Health chairman Henry Tong Sau-chai cited health minister Lo Chung-mau as saying.
A similar measure was adopted by New Zealand last year to make people born in 2009 or later a smoke-free generation by effectively banning them from buying cigarettes for life.
Tong said he had proposed the tobacco endgame policy to Lo, who said he will consider it and reference similar policies from other places.
Tong suggested drawing the line for those born in 2009, who will turn 18 years old by 2027 - the last year of the sixth-term government.
smoking lady source: thestandard.com.hk
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