Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long told reporters yesterday that his bureau will launch a new pilot programme to test designated smoking points on the peripheries of non-smoking areas next year, such as within 10 metres of school gates or near bus stops, while exploring models for Designated Smoking Area (DSA) zones, adding that his bureau continues to revise tobacco control laws to address challenges to tackle the issue of smoking while walking in the street.
Someone smoking while walking in the street are known as fire-truck head in Cantonese slang.
Dr Lo made the remarks on the sidelines of the one-day 12th “Cross-Strait, Hong Kong and Macau Tobacco Control Conference” at the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre. About 380 public health professionals and officials from the four Chinese regions – Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau – participated, aiming to strengthen collaboration on building a shared healthy future.
Dr Lo noted that the first pilot will be launched along Alameda Dr. Carlos d’Assumpção (宋玉生廣場) in Nape, use ground markings and signs instead of physical barriers to divide the smoking areas. The initiative will rely on persuasion before the law is formally implemented, with future refinements to be made based on feedback from community associations and the public, Lo said.
Dr Lo said in a speech during yesterday’s conference that Macau has made significant progress in tobacco control, such as establishing smoke-free zones near three schools and one nursery, with plans to expand coverage, increasing the health warning size on tobacco packaging to 75 percent with standardised fonts on the packets, and implementing plain packaging to reduce appeal. Macau has also enforced a complete ban on the import and export of e-cigarettes since 2022, alongside tightened controls on online sales, Dr Lo said.
Meanwhile, the smoking rate among Macau’s population aged 15 and above has dropped from 16.9 percent to 11.6 percent, surpassing the World Health Organisation (WHO) target ahead of schedule, Dr Lo said, adding that the youth smoking rate has fallen to 3.8 percent.
Moreover, 10 public health centres are providing integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine smoking cessation counselling, all of them showing a service uptake, Dr Lo said, adding that in the first nine months of this year, 3,599 people used the service.
Flu peak season
Pointing out that Macau is right now going through its peak influenza period, Dr Lo pointed out that over 30 percent of patients with respiratory symptoms and fever are confirmed cases of Influenza A, adding that vaccination efforts are continuing, with nearly 180,000 doses administered this season. He urged residents who have not yet been inoculated against influenza (especially the elderly, children, and those with chronic diseases) to be vaccinated as soon as possible.
Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long poses during yesterday’s 12th “Cross-Strait, Hong Kong and Macau Tobacco Control Conference”, at the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre in Nape. – Photo: Ida Cheong
