Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) organizes the Elderly Smoking Cessation Promotion Project every year to promote smoke-free messages through organizing health talks at elderly centres and promotion activities in the community. This year, nearly 30 "Smoke-free Elderly Ambassadors" from two Elder Academies Clusters joined the Project, partnering with COSH to promote the benefits of a smoke-free lifestyle. A publicity event titled "Building Momentum for a Smoke-free Future" was held today (9 December) to call for public support for tobacco control and a smoke-free Hong Kong through the active participation of the elderly.
Officiating guests at the event included Dr FUNG Ying (Acting Controller of Regulatory Affairs, Department of Health), Dr Donald LI Kwok-tung, GBS, JP (Chairman, Elderly Commission), Mr CHAN How-chi, MH (Convenor, New Territories West Elder Academies Cluster), Mr LAU Sai-chong (Convenor, New Territories East Elder Academies Cluster), Hon Edmund WONG Chun-sek (Legislative Council Member) and Dr Johnnie CHAN Chi-kau, SBS, BBS, JP (COSH Vice-chairman). Artist Mr Rock HO Chun-lok, successful quitter Mr LAU Wai-ming, and the "Smoke-free Elderly Ambassadors" also participated in the event and shared information on the harms of smoking, the benefits of quitting, and the importance of tobacco control for building a healthy living environment.
According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong's smoking prevalence dropped to a historic low of 9.1% in 2023. Dr Johnnie CHAN, COSH Vice-chairman stressed that Hong Kong’s tobacco control progress must not stagnate. Tobacco control effort should be further strengthened to prevent youth from starting to smoke and to encourage smokers especially the elderly to quit smoking. He stated, “Over the years, the forms of smoking have evolved as tobacco industries introduced various smoking products to attract youth with appealing packaging, designs, and flavours. It is crucial to implement more advanced and effective measures to curb the spread of tobacco harms. Meanwhile, as elderly smokers make up the majority of the smoking population, we should pay closer attention to the health of elderly smokers and offer a variety of cessation aids to encourage them to quit.” He aspires for the 'Smoke-free Elderly Ambassadors,' as non-smokers, to widely disseminate smoke-free messages to people of all ages and genders, fostering greater social attention and support for stronger tobacco control measures and ultimately striving toward a smoke-free future.
Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke not only accelerate aging but also increase the risk of common diseases in the elderly, such as high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes. No matter how old one is and how long one has smoked, it is never too late to quit. At the event, Dr Donald LI, Chairman of Elderly Commission, discussed the link between smoking and common elderly diseases. He encouraged all smokers, especially elderly smokers, to quit as soon as possible to reduce the health and mortality risks associated with smoking. Successful quitter Mr LAU Wai-ming also shared his quitting journey at the event. He recalled his friend suffered from serious diseases caused by smoking. It made him realize the importance of health and motivated him to quit. After quitting, Mr LAU noticed improvements in his complexion, clearer and brighter eyes, and enhanced vitality. He now enjoys his retirement life more, spending time engaging in healthy activities such as learning social dance. Furthermore, he has successfully encouraged his daughter to quit smoking, demonstrating the positive influence of the elderly in promoting a smoke-free lifestyle to their families and the communities.
The event was also supported by the "Smoke-free Elderly Ambassadors" in the promotion activities before the ceremony. They promoted the benefits of quitting smoking and introduced Hong Kong’s next-phase tobacco control measures to the public through booth games, leaflet distribution, and smoke-free wish-making activities. To further reach out the community, COSH has been collaborating with the "Smoke-free Elderly Ambassadors" since November 2024 to organize street promotions across the territory and spread out the smoke-free message throughout the territories.
The officiating guests call on the public in support of strengthening tobacco control and building a smoke-free Hong Kong.
Dr Donald LI, Chairman of Elderly Commission, shares the harms of smoking and the benefits of quitting.
Mr Lau Wai-ming, a successful quitter, shares his quit story and serves as an elderly role model in promoting a smoke-free lifestyle.
The "Smoke-Free Ambassadors" from New Territories West Elder Academies Cluster and New Territories East Elder Academies Cluster actively advocate for public support of tobacco control measures.