Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 2007

A Smoke-free Campus The hazards of smoking to health are well known, but did you know that the growing, processing and smoking of tobacco are detrimental to the environment? Tobacco growing involves the use of large amounts of fertilizers and pesticides, many of which are toxic and contain known carcinogens. Deforestation is another problem. Forests need to be cleared for large-scale tobacco planting. What is more, cigarette butts can take years to decompose and many end up in the stomachs of wildlife. The University has snuffed out smoking on its campus, starting from 1 January 2007. ‘No smoking’ signs have been put up, visitors are informed of the policy, and the UHS website provides tips on how to quit smoking. Prof. Lee Shiu-hung, Emeritus Professor of Community Medicine and honorary advisor t o t h e S c h o o l o f Public Health, has been at the forefront of tobacco control in the region. Prof. Lee has made huge contributions to the introduction of legislation prohibiting indoor smoking as well as tobacco advertising in Hong Kong. He also paved the way for the ban on the importation and sale of smokeless tobacco into certain Asia Pacific countries, including Hong Kong. 12 Chinese University Bulletin