(Hong Kong, 17 February 2014)Sponsored by the Department of Health, The Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon, has launched the 2-year program, “Smoking Cessation Program in Workplace”, since July 2012. As of 31 December 2013, over 100 corporate participated in the Program and 439 smokers received our counseling services to quit smoking.

19% of the program participants are women. Professor Lam Tai Hing, Chair Professor of The School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, pointed out that the program could reach more women smokers as they concentrated in industry such as retailing and beauty industries. According to statistics from the Census and Statistics Department, the number of women smokers in the age of 30-40 has been rising from 2010 to 2012. Among the program participants, 50% of them in the age of 30-49, which showed the Program was serving middle-aged female smokers that usually hard to reach. The Program could help to fill in the service gap of the existing smoking cessation services.

Majority of the women program participants were frontline sales staff. They admitted that smoking could relief their work pressure and hence developed emotional reliance on smoking. Our program workers needed to emphasis on cognitive behavioral treatment to help women smokers learn stress management and emotional support. Professor Lam encouraged corporate or government to provide incentive schemes, such as cash reward and vacation incentives to motivate smokers to quit smoking.

Regarding the recent discussion on tobacco tax increment, Dr Hon Sei Hoe, Johnny, Chairman of The Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon said that Lok Sin Tong carry out a telephone survey during January to February 2014. 114 program participants were interviewed on the impact of tobacco tax increment on their smoking habit. The survey found that 19% of respondents would quit smoking with 1-49% price increase; 17% of respondents would quit with 50-69% price increase; 7% of respondents would quit with 70-99% price increase. 39% respondents would definitely quit smoking for 100% price increase. The survey revealed that cigarette price was an important factor for smoking cessation.

As the program planner and executive, Lok Sin Tong fully understood the difficulties for smoking cessation. In addition to tobacco tax increment, Lok Sin Tong encouraged the community to support and care for the smokers. In this view, we gathered together corporate, social welfare organizations, smokers and their families to establish a Smoke-Free Alliance. We would work hand in hand to promote a smoke-free Hong Kong through different channels, such as public education and case sharing on the benefits of smoking cessation on personal and family health, daily life, work and relationship.