Press Releases

Acting SFH on Kwong Wah Hospital's incident and e-cigarettes

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Acting Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, after attending a public function today (May 22):

Reporter: Is it possible that there is any negligence involved in the incident (of Kwong Wah Hospital in which a hospitalised baby was injured due to falling)?

Acting Secretary for Food and Health: Regarding the incident, the Hospital Authority (HA) has already set up a committee with different professionals to investigate the details of the incident. There will be results coming out in about eight weeks. We are very concerned about this incident. The HA has already reminded the rest of the pediatric wards to be very careful about caring for babies.

Reporter: Is there any timetable regarding the legislation of e-cigarettes?

Acting Secretary for Food and Health: We are very concerned about children consuming e-cigarettes. From one of our recent surveys, we find out that about 2.7 per cent of primary school students have ever smoked e-cigarettes, and for secondary school students, it's about 9 per cent. This is not a very small percentage. Therefore, on the one hand, we will increase public education, not only for children, but also for parents as well as for school teachers. On the other hand, we are going to strengthen the regulatory framework for e-cigarettes, and we are working on it right now.

Reporter: Any timetable?

Acting Secretary for Food and Health: While we do not have a firm timetable, but we have already reported our proposed actions at the Legislative Council.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Sunday, May 22, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:34

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