Introduction
Cigarettes release many chemicals such as tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide etc, which cause great harm to human body. Cigarette smokers have higher chances for cancers (especially lung cancer), heart diseases and cerebrovascular disease. Environmental tobacco smoke (second hand smoking) also increases the risk for lung cancer, heart diseases and respiratory symptoms. Smoking in pregnant women also has adverse effect to their fetus.
Situation in Hong Kong
According to the General Household Survey and Thematic Household Survey, the percentage of daily cigarette smokers among persons aged 15 and over decreased steadily from 23.3% in 1982 to 12.4% in 2000. It increased to 14.4% in 2002 and then decreased again to 11.8% in 2008. The percentage of male daily cigarette smokers was persistently higher than female daily cigarette smokers. In 2008, the percentage of male and female daily cigarette smokers was 20.5% and 3.6% respectively. The percentage of female daily cigarette smokers dropped from 5.6% in 1982 to 2.6% in 1990. Then, the percentage rebounded and reached 4.0% in 2005. Afterwards, the percentage dropped to 3.6% in 2008.
Percentage of daily cigarette smokers by sex, 1982-2008
| Sources: |
General Household Surveys in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1996 and 1998. |
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Thematic Household Surveys in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2008. |
Except for young persons aged below 30, the percentage of daily cigarette smokers generally decreased in all age groups but rebounded in 2002. The statutory no smoking areas have been extended effective from 1 January 2007. The percentage of daily cigarette smokers dropped in all age groups in 2008.
Percentage of daily cigarette smokers by age group, 1982-2008
| Sources: |
General Household Surveys in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1996 and 1998. |
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Thematic Household Surveys in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2008. |
As for smoking in work place, the proportion of employed persons who reported that there were persons who smoked within 3 metres around them in their work place dropped from 28.2% in 2005 to 14.6% in 2008.
Related information
Non-smokers should never start smoking while smokers should quit the habit immediately. The Department of Health provides a wide range of quit smoking services for smokers including Smoking Cessation Hotline and Smoking Cessation Programme. To know more on harmful effects of smoking and tobacco control in Hong Kong, please visit the website of our Tobacco Control Office.
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