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he 7th “Quit to Win” Contest cum Smoke-free Community Campaign Prize Presentation Ceremony
Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) has organized the “Quit to Win” Smoke-free Community Campaign since 2009 to motivate smokers to quit smoking. Over 1,000 smokers were recruited each year. This year, the Campaign is again supported by the 18 District Councils and various community organizations. The territory-wide 7th “Quit to Win” Contest cum Smoke-free Community Campaign has successfully recruited more than 1,300 smokers to quit and spread the smoke-free messages to over 40,000 members of public.
COSH held a prize presentation ceremony today (17 March) to award the winners of the 7th “Quit to Win” Contest and commend the District Councils, community organizations and various organizations for their tremendous support in the Campaign. Honorable guests included Dr KO Wing-man, BBS, JP (Sectary for Food and Health), Dr Tina CHAN (Assistant Director of Health (Special Health Services)), Prof LAM Tai-hing, BBS, JP (Chair Professor of Community Medicine & Sir Robert Kotewall Professor in Public Health, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong), Mr Antonio KWONG, MH (COSH Chairman), Ms Yolanda NG, MH (COSH Vice-chairman) and Ms Vienna LAI (COSH Executive Director).
Mr Antonio KWONG, COSH Chairman expressed, “The 7th ‘Quit to Win’ Contest cum Smoke-free Community Campaign would not be successful without the huge support from the District Councils and various community organizations. This year, COSH conducted nearly 70 recruitment activities and collaborated with 21 district working partners to organize more than 30 community-based promotional events. Together with the support in promotion and venue provision from Hong Kong Jockey Club and Link Asset Management Limited, the Campaign did not only recruit over 1,000 smokers to quit smoking, but also disseminated the smoke-free messages throughout the community, created a positive atmosphere for smoking cessation, and upheld the smoke-free lifestyle”
Dr KO Wing-man, Secretary for Food and Health remarked that strong determination is crucial for a successful quit attempt. Meanwhile, support from family and friends, as well as appropriate assistance on smoking cessation will also increase the chance of success. He encouraged smokers to dial the Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline 1833 183 to obtain free and professional smoking cessation services. The hotline will provide useful and effective quit methods for smokers to kick the smoking habit as soon as possible.
The winners of the 7th “Quit to Win” Contest also shared their successful stories and tips on smoking cessation. The champion, Mr LIN Ngai-lui, had smoked for more than 20 years. He was influenced by peers in primary school to pick up his first cigarette. He tried to get rid of the habit when his son was born but was unsuccessful. This time, Mr LIN determined to kick the smoking habit with the aim to improve the conditions of bronchitis. More importantly, his son was hospitalized because of trachea problem, and also suffered from other health problems such as hearing impairment and attention deficit. It made him feel guilty, as he thought these health problems were caused by secondhand smoke exposure. Moreover, Mr LIN would like have one more child, yet, his wife urged him to quit smoking before planning for a baby. For his health and his family, Mr LIN made up his mind to quit smoking to guarantee a smoke-free environment for the next generation. After joining the 7th “Quit to Win” Contest, he was referred to a smoking cessation service provider and received professional advice from smoking cessation counselor. Added to the support from his family, he quitted smoking successfully. Now he has a strong sense of achievement, alongside with improvement on breathing and less coughing.
The first runner-up Mr KWOK Wai-man had smoked for more than 30 years. Mr KWOK had hard feeling when he was always not around during family times due to smoking. Also, he was aware of the importance of quitting when his close one had lung cancer and passed away. Mr KWOK had participated in the 6th “Quit to Win” Contest but the attempt failed. This time, he learnt from the past experience and succeeded. He suggested smokers to first stop lighting up the cigarette before sleeping and after waking up, while changing other habits such as drinking alcohol at the same time. He thanked the regular phone messages from the Campaign that backed him up when his will was weak. The follow-up service from the smoking cessation counselor also boosted his motivation to quit. His family was very delighted towards his successful quit.
The second runner-up Ms NG Ka-yan had spent more than 15 years as a smoker. Although the overall cigarette consumption was not high, sometimes she smoked up to 2 to 3 packs of cigarettes per day. Ms NG stopped smoking when she was pregnant for the first time, but relapsed after her first child was born due to the misconception that secondhand smoke would not affect the health of the fetus and children. Except her eldest son, her other three children were either having trachea problem or allergic rhinitis. Finally, she realized the harms of secondhand smoke on her children’s health and determined to quit smoking so as to be a smoke-free role model of her children. Out of all the benefits she had after quitting, Ms NG found that it was precious that she has a closer relationship and more time to spend with her children as the worries of the harms of secondhand and third-hand smoke on her children were eliminated.
At the ceremony, artists Ms Catherine CHAU, Mr Alex LAM and Mr Kimman WONG also spread the smoke-free messages through interesting games, which disseminated the information of benefit of quitting and Hong Kong’s smoking cessation services to encourage smokers to quit for better health.
Photo captions
Three winners (third from the left) Mr LIN Ngai-lui (Champion), Ms NG Ka-yan (2nd runner-up) and Mr KWOK Wai-man (1st runner-up) shared their inspiring quit stories and tips with the audience.
Successful quitters of the “Quit to Win” Contests showed their certificates and encouraged smokers to quit.
COSH thanked the support of the 18 District Councils and collaborating partners to the 7th “Quit to Win” Contest cum Smoke-free Community Campaign.
COSH held a prize presentation ceremony today (17 March) to award the winners of the 7th “Quit to Win” Contest and commend the District Councils, community organizations and various organizations for their tremendous support in the Campaign. Honorable guests included Dr KO Wing-man, BBS, JP (Sectary for Food and Health), Dr Tina CHAN (Assistant Director of Health (Special Health Services)), Prof LAM Tai-hing, BBS, JP (Chair Professor of Community Medicine & Sir Robert Kotewall Professor in Public Health, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong), Mr Antonio KWONG, MH (COSH Chairman), Ms Yolanda NG, MH (COSH Vice-chairman) and Ms Vienna LAI (COSH Executive Director).
Mr Antonio KWONG, COSH Chairman expressed, “The 7th ‘Quit to Win’ Contest cum Smoke-free Community Campaign would not be successful without the huge support from the District Councils and various community organizations. This year, COSH conducted nearly 70 recruitment activities and collaborated with 21 district working partners to organize more than 30 community-based promotional events. Together with the support in promotion and venue provision from Hong Kong Jockey Club and Link Asset Management Limited, the Campaign did not only recruit over 1,000 smokers to quit smoking, but also disseminated the smoke-free messages throughout the community, created a positive atmosphere for smoking cessation, and upheld the smoke-free lifestyle”
Dr KO Wing-man, Secretary for Food and Health remarked that strong determination is crucial for a successful quit attempt. Meanwhile, support from family and friends, as well as appropriate assistance on smoking cessation will also increase the chance of success. He encouraged smokers to dial the Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline 1833 183 to obtain free and professional smoking cessation services. The hotline will provide useful and effective quit methods for smokers to kick the smoking habit as soon as possible.
The winners of the 7th “Quit to Win” Contest also shared their successful stories and tips on smoking cessation. The champion, Mr LIN Ngai-lui, had smoked for more than 20 years. He was influenced by peers in primary school to pick up his first cigarette. He tried to get rid of the habit when his son was born but was unsuccessful. This time, Mr LIN determined to kick the smoking habit with the aim to improve the conditions of bronchitis. More importantly, his son was hospitalized because of trachea problem, and also suffered from other health problems such as hearing impairment and attention deficit. It made him feel guilty, as he thought these health problems were caused by secondhand smoke exposure. Moreover, Mr LIN would like have one more child, yet, his wife urged him to quit smoking before planning for a baby. For his health and his family, Mr LIN made up his mind to quit smoking to guarantee a smoke-free environment for the next generation. After joining the 7th “Quit to Win” Contest, he was referred to a smoking cessation service provider and received professional advice from smoking cessation counselor. Added to the support from his family, he quitted smoking successfully. Now he has a strong sense of achievement, alongside with improvement on breathing and less coughing.
The first runner-up Mr KWOK Wai-man had smoked for more than 30 years. Mr KWOK had hard feeling when he was always not around during family times due to smoking. Also, he was aware of the importance of quitting when his close one had lung cancer and passed away. Mr KWOK had participated in the 6th “Quit to Win” Contest but the attempt failed. This time, he learnt from the past experience and succeeded. He suggested smokers to first stop lighting up the cigarette before sleeping and after waking up, while changing other habits such as drinking alcohol at the same time. He thanked the regular phone messages from the Campaign that backed him up when his will was weak. The follow-up service from the smoking cessation counselor also boosted his motivation to quit. His family was very delighted towards his successful quit.
The second runner-up Ms NG Ka-yan had spent more than 15 years as a smoker. Although the overall cigarette consumption was not high, sometimes she smoked up to 2 to 3 packs of cigarettes per day. Ms NG stopped smoking when she was pregnant for the first time, but relapsed after her first child was born due to the misconception that secondhand smoke would not affect the health of the fetus and children. Except her eldest son, her other three children were either having trachea problem or allergic rhinitis. Finally, she realized the harms of secondhand smoke on her children’s health and determined to quit smoking so as to be a smoke-free role model of her children. Out of all the benefits she had after quitting, Ms NG found that it was precious that she has a closer relationship and more time to spend with her children as the worries of the harms of secondhand and third-hand smoke on her children were eliminated.
At the ceremony, artists Ms Catherine CHAU, Mr Alex LAM and Mr Kimman WONG also spread the smoke-free messages through interesting games, which disseminated the information of benefit of quitting and Hong Kong’s smoking cessation services to encourage smokers to quit for better health.
Photo captions
Three winners (third from the left) Mr LIN Ngai-lui (Champion), Ms NG Ka-yan (2nd runner-up) and Mr KWOK Wai-man (1st runner-up) shared their inspiring quit stories and tips with the audience.
Successful quitters of the “Quit to Win” Contests showed their certificates and encouraged smokers to quit.
COSH thanked the support of the 18 District Councils and collaborating partners to the 7th “Quit to Win” Contest cum Smoke-free Community Campaign.
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