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The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health has urged the government to keep raising tobacco taxes to make the battle against smoking more effective.

smoking taxFirst published: March 4, 2010

Source: The Standard

The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health has urged the government to keep raising tobacco taxes to make the battle against smoking more effective.

In an interview with RTHK yesterday, chairwoman Lisa Lau Man-man said though the recent move to limit visitors and returning residents to only 19 sticks of duty-free cigarettes was a positive one, it would be more effective for the government to increase taxes.

“When cigarettes are too cheap, people tend to smoke more. The increase in tobacco tax in 2009 was a positive measure, and it should be continued to shape a more effective fight against smoking,” Lau said.

She also felt the packaging of cigarettes remains attractive and draws young people. “The government should place more horrifying pictures such as those of various cancers on the packaging to deter the young from smoking,” she suggested.

Written by Kaylene Hong

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