The 9th “Quit to Win” Smoke-free Community Campaign Promotes Smoking Cessation and Smoke-free lifest

Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) has organized the “Quit to Win” Smoke-free Community Campaign since 2009. The Campaign motivates smokers to quit and promotes the smoke-free lifestyle through the “Quit to Win” Contest and a series of district-based smoke-free promotion activities. The campaign also mixes with the components of media promotion, counseling and scientific research on smoking cessation. With the continuous support from the 18 District Councils and district working partners, the territory-wide 9th “Quit to Win” Contest cum Smoke-free Community Campaign has organized over 100 recruitment and promotion activities, which successfully mobilized more than 1,200 smokers to quit and spread the smoke-free messages to over 60,000 members of public.

COSH held a prize presentation ceremony today (25 March) to award the winners of the 9th “Quit to Win” Contest and commend the District Councils, district working partners and various supporting organizations for their enthusiastic support. Honorable guests included Mr WOO Ying-ming, CSDSM (Commissioner of Correctional Services), Dr FUNG Ying (Head, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office, Department of Health), Mr Antonio KWONG, MH (COSH Chairman), Ms Yolanda NG, MH (COSH Vice-chairman) , Mr Richard TSANG (Chairman of COSH Education and Publicity Committee) and Ms Vienna LAI (COSH Executive Director). Other guests, successful quitters as well as artists Ms Louisa MAK and Mr Hero YUEN also joined the ceremony to remind the hazards of smoking and promote the benefits of quitting through interactive game and performance.

Mr Antonio KWONG, COSH Chairman said, “The 9th “Quit to Win” Contest does not only offer incentives for smokers to kick the habit. Through the collaboration with District Councils and district working partners, different types of smoke-free promotion activities and exhibitions were also organized in the community. Together with the participation from Correctional Services Department, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Link Asset Management Limited, 22 companies and trade associations from catering, construction and transportation industry, the Campaign promoted smoke-free message to a wider spectrum of the society and cultivated a positive atmosphere for creating a smoke-free environment”. COSH reminded smokers not to use the new smoking products including e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn tobacco products. Efficacy of these products on smoking cessation is not recognized and they could pose immense health risks to health. In order to protect public health, the legislation to ban these products should be proponed.

Dr FUNG Ying, Head of Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office, Department of Health congratulated the winners and successful quitters of the contest. She remarked, “To safeguard the health of the public, the Government adopt the policy to contain the proliferation of tobacco use and minimize the impact of passive smoking on the public. Our multi-pronged approach comprises legislation, enforcement, publicity, education, smoking cessation services and taxation. With the concerted efforts by the Government and other stakeholders over the years, smoking prevalence among persons aged 15 and above has significantly dropped from over 20% in the 1980s to 10% at present. Let’s continue our efforts in promoting smoke-free message, as well as supporting COSH’s programmes, to strive for a smoke-free Hong Kong.”

The winners of the 9th “Quit to Win” Contest shared their experiences and tips of smoking cessation. The champion, Mr LAU Wai-ming had smoked for 41 years. In his twenties, he suffered from pulmonary emphysema and removal of large portion of lung’s superior lobe. However, he was unable to make up his mind to quit due to heavy dependence on nicotine. Mr LAU thought that his health condition became worse in recent years. In addition, a few of his smoking friends died in smoking-related diseases such as nasopharyngeal cancer and lung cancer, making him worried about the risk of serious smoking-related diseases. Hence he determined to quit as soon as possible. In order to resist temptation, Mr LAU avoided contact with his smoking friends and visiting places that might induce him to smoke. He did not allow smoking family members to smoke in his surrounding and re-arranged all family gatherings in smoke-free venues. Being free from the smoking addiction, Mr LAU becomes healthier and enjoys his retirement life more. Instead of smoking, he spends more time in other healthy activities, such as learning social dance. He has used his own experience to inspire his daughter to quit smoking successfully and he hopes to encourage more family members and friends to kick the habit.

First runner-up, Mr CHOY Tak-yin is a securities specialist. He smoked up to 3 to 5 cigarettes per day, and perceived smoking as social activity among co-workers and pressure relief method. He held a misconception that quit smoking is not necessary to him as he was not a heavy smoker. Until three year ago, when his son was born, he worried about the health risks caused by secondhand and third-hand smoking to his children and it triggered his thought of smoking cessation. Encouraged by his wife, he enrolled the contest and initiated a quit attempt. The contest had referred Mr CHOY to different effective and appropriate smoking cessation services, such as nicotine replacement therapy, acupuncture and counseling. These helped him to effectively cope with cigarette cravings and withdrawal symptoms. He refused to use e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn tobacco products to quit smoking. He emphasized that these products are same harmful as cigarettes, not the healthier alternative and unlikely to help quit smoking. After stopping smoking, Mr CHOY feels more energetic and has smooth breath than before. He is able to tackle the pressure from work easily and enjoys the smoke-free healthy lifestyle.

Second runner-up, Mr WANG Shuzhao smoked for nearly 20 years since he picked up the first cigarette for curiosity in university years. Although he knew well that secondhand and third-hand smoking adversely affects the health of family and wanted to be a role model to his daughters, he failed to quit smoking due to the addiction. In order to hide his smoking habit from his daughters, he avoided smoking in front of them. For example, he would lock himself in the bathroom and smoke. His lie was exposed as his daughters found him smoking with friends in a gathering last year. He felt very guilty about lying and being a bad example. In order not to disappoint his daughters and to have intimate contact with the kids, he eventually determined to quit. He was easily irritated when he started to stop smoking. By upholding the faith and exercising, he finally succeeded in coping with withdrawal symptoms and quitted smoking eventually. Without the worry about the harm of second and third-hand smoke, Mr WANG has no more hesitation in giving daughters a hug, nor needs to hide away for smoking. His family praised that there was no longer bad smell of cigarette smoke around him. His daughters were more willing to stay closer with him, hence the family relationship is further improved.

To sustain the momentum in smoking cessation, COSH will kick-off the recruitment and promotion sessions for the 10th “Quit to Win” Smoke-free Community Campaign in 18 districts in June 2019. For details, please visit www.quittowin.hk.

Photo Captions


The winners (from left) Mr CHOY Tak-yin (1st runner-up), Mr LAU Wai-ming (champion) and Mr WANG Shuzhao (2nd runner-up) shared their inspiring quit stories and tips with the audience.


Successful quitters of the “Quit to Win” Contest showed their happiness after quitting.


COSH thanked the District Councils, district working partners and supporting organizations for their tremendous support to the 9th “Quit to Win” Smoke-free Community Campaign.