Combat Smoking by Staring

Does Hong Kong have a severe smoking problem?

According to statistics, 9.5 percent of the population or around 600,000 people light up; of them 50 percent are aged 50 and above. In Canada it's 13 percent of the population, and in the United States it's 11.5 percent.

The authorities say there is a rising number of women smoking, but this has always been the case, while 7 percent of secondary students have tried cigarettes.

In a bid to show his concern for young people, Secretary for Health Dr Lo Chung-mau has proposed banning Hongkongers born after a certain date from being able to buy cancer sticks.

"To protect our next generation from the harms of tobacco and to ensure the sustainability of our healthcare system, we need to draft strategies that keep up with the times," Lo said at a press briefing.

"As a doctor, I don't want our next generation to suffer from the harms of smoking and second-hand smoke."

Has the doctor seen the current smoking trend? It's already on a downward trend. In general there are fewer people smoking in the city which is a great thing, though it's harder to get middle-aged smokers to kick the habit. 

So what does Lo suggest the public do? The headline of The Standard says it all: "Health chief calls on citizens to stare at every smoker to establish a smoke-control culture."

Oops the headline was later revised to: "Health chief calls on citizens to stare smokers in non-designated areas to establish a smoke-control culture."

Why not just ban smoking or ban the import of all cigarettes? Oh wait the government reaps money from the taxes generated...

So the best Lo can come up with is getting the public to give the side eye to smokers. 

This is the best idea he can muster up? 

Oh wait this is the same administration that put up Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu as the front man to welcome people back in the "Happy Hong Kong' campaign... 

How is that going, by the way?