Date:2020-6-1 23:18:23 Clicks:1014 【Font Size:
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To echo the World No Tobacco Day (31 May), Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) has launched a publicity programme with the theme of “Breathe In. Tobacco Out”, aiming to promote the benefits of deep breathing and a smoke-free lifestyle, as well as to motivate smokers to say NO to all forms of tobacco products and live smoke-free. General public is encouraged to share stress relieving tips with family and friends, also design a personalized smoke-free pinwheel to spread smoke-free messages.
COSH, in collaboration with Radio 1 of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), will launch a series of promotional video, video interviews and portraits at social media platforms to promote smoke-free culture and encourage smokers to quit smoking. Participating guests included Prof Sophia CHAN (Secretary for Food and Health), Dr Constance CHAN (Director of Health), Prof LAM Tai-hing (Chair Professor of Community Medicine cum Sir Robert Kotewall Professor in Public Health, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong), Prof Samuel WONG (Director of The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong), Mr Antonio KWONG (COSH Chairman) and Ms Yolanda NG (COSH Vice-chairman). Smoke-free Ambassador, Alex FONG leads a group of artists and DJs, including LEUNG Ka-ki, Skye CHAN, Akina FONG, Eugina LAU, Karen CHENG, Vivian YIP, together with Dr LOUIE Hung-tak (Associate Professor of Department of Sport and Physical Education, Hong Kong Baptist University), Sonia KONG (Hong Kong Women's Beach Volleyball Team) and quitter LAM Ka-kit participated in the videos.
The programme portraits were published on 28 May while the promotional video of “Breathe In. Tobacco Out” will be premiered on RTHK TV31 at 5pm today (31 May). A series of video interviews will be launched via various online platforms such as RTHK Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/RTHK.HK/), Smoke-free Family Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/smokefreefamily/) and Facebook pages of participating artists starting from tomorrow (1 June).
Prof Sophia CHAN, Secretary for Food and Health remarked that the Government has been adopting a progressive approach in tobacco control, comprising legislation, publicity, education, law enforcement, provision of smoking cessation services and taxation to contain the proliferation of tobacco use. World Health Organization designated 31 May every year as World No Tobacco Day and has announced “Protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use” as the focus this year. With the concerted efforts of the Government, COSH and the community, smoke-free messages will be spread among people from all walks of life especially the youths through various programmes.
Antonio KWONG, COSH Chairman introduced the programme to invite the mass public for taking deep breath every day and staying away from tobacco products. He said, “Deep breathing helps quitters to curb with tobacco cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms. It also helps non-smokers to keep calm and relaxed.” Smoke-free Ambassador, Alex FONG highlighted the importance of perseverance and strong determination for quitters to stop smoking by sharing his experience of “Swim around Hong Kong Charity Challenge”.
A set of Smoke-free WhatsApp stickers with the theme of “Breathe In. Tobacco Out” were created for spreading smoke-free messages among family and friends. Promotion activities of “Breathe In. Tobacco Out” will be held from May to July 2020. The mass public are welcomed to support, share stress relieving tips and get a chance to win fabulous prizes. For details, please visit the programme website https://www.smokefree.hk/deepbreathing or Smoke-free Family Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/smokefreefamily/.