Customs data confirms what WHO and the World Bank have stated for years.

Clear the Air and many other local medical professionals lobbied the Financial Secretary for years from 2001 till 2009 to increase tobacco taxation. This is the most effective proven method of reducing tobacco use and preventing youth from starting smoking. The WHO Tobacco Free Initiative and World Bank state that a 10% increase in tobacco tax reduces overall smoking by 4%. The Hong Kong Government ignored the WHO advice for ten long years until February 2009.

Instead of a blanket smoking ban imposed in January 2007, the Government allowed bars and other premises ‘Qualified Establishment‘ status which meant smokers could still go out to entertainment venues and smoke there; this resulted in an INCREASE in duty paid cigarette sales after the ban rather than the required effect of reducing smoking. This data was the subject of a front page article in the SCMP newspaper just prior to the 2009 budget and an ATV Inside Story documentary displayed like information in the same week.

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