Quitting Smoking & Tobacco Control

Smoking is harmful to your health and those around you. Learn about what the Government has done to control smoking and how to quit the habit if you are a smoker.

Smoking Ban in Public Places and Workplaces

With effect from 1 January 2007, smoking is banned in the indoor areas of all restaurant premises, indoor workplaces, public indoor places and some public outdoor places specified by the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance. Since 1 September 2009, any person found to be smoking in these areas will be liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500.

Why Should I Quit Smoking?

By quitting smoking, you can:

• reduce the risk of suffering from smoking-related diseases, e.g. lung cancer, respiratory diseases, heart diseases and stroke;
• save money from buying cigarettes;
• protect your family against the harm of secondhand smoke;
• smell fresh and build up a healthy image.

For women, smoking can make you age faster and dampen your chance of pregnancy. You would cause dangers to your baby if you are pregnant.

For men, smoking can cause erectile dysfunction. So quit smoking now!

How Can I Quit Smoking?

Whenever you have the urge to smoke, get over it by:

• delay: wait and recall why you want to quit. The urge will go away in a few minutes.
• distraction: wash your face, take a deep breath or talk to others to cool yourself down.
• discipline: avoid triggers such as alcohol, caffeine drinks and environment filled with secondhand smoke.

Smoking Cessation Services

The Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline (1833 183) offers professional counselling and arranges referrals to various smoking cessation clinics which provide a range of services such as assessment, counselling, drug treatment and follow-up.

Other Information on Tobacco Control