事 項 與 發 展

Ladies and gentlemen,

With this learned audience, I trust that there should not be the need for me to appeal for your understanding that people with jobs like mine do have to make speeches and deliver talks as part of our everyday life. And indeed, I have been doing these rather frequently in the past. But this is one annual event that I have as much inertia as eagerness to attend. Let me try to explain the complexity here.

First, tonight I will have the hard time of speaking before two native speakers, not to mention that one is the first ever Royal Society of Public Health Lecturer who has delivered the much appraised talk entitled "Gazing into the future - rhythms, reflections and hope" just a short while ago; the other is a long time guru in tobacco dependence who actually has teaching at the very prestigious Mayo University as a career! What is going to make the situation even more stressful is that although there finally is a third one who speaks more Finnish and less English, he then so happens to be the Chief Medical Advisor to the much acclaimed National Institute for Health and Welfare of FINLAND, a land in where its Government has, once again, made the groundbreaking decision of stubbing out smoking. So, ladies and gentlemen, perhaps by now, you should be able to appreciate the many reasons for my anxiety.

Quite honestly, were it not for my great attraction by the trios' professional charisma plus our very noble friendship, I simply may not have the courage to face this challenge tonight.

Anyway, ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to welcome you officially to tonight's Seminar. I am enormously grateful for your having given up some of your very precious time to join us, in particular of course, the three speakers who have travelled from afar at the beginning of the year to make this Seminar possible.

But before moving on, I must say how much Dr Sarah PERL of NEW YORK and the many people in HAITI are in our thoughts, regardless of how inadequate the latter may be. Assistant Commissioner Sarah, who has an illness, is fortunately making her way to recovery. Coincidentally, it was also around this time last year that Victoria, AUSTRALIA had a very destructive fire. Ladies and gentlemen, I only wish that when we next meet, there will be more happy stories to spread instead of sadness to share.

Coming back, it seems hardly believable that only a year ago, I was welcoming you for the launch of Hong Kong's tobacco dependence enhancement programme. I am given to understand that all who attended have incredibly fond memories of that Symposium, and I am only too pleased to see so many familiar faces this evening, amongst whom, many are working hard to take forward jobs needed to be done in the many different frontiers in our combat against tobacco use.

As revealed, I am but absolutely humble in front of tonight's outstanding panel. And if I may just borrow a moment of its time, I'd just like to say a few words about the progress of our tobacco dependence enhancement move which, afterall, is what has brought us all together.

Shortly after last year's Symposium, our Financial Secretary announced the much awaited increase in tobacco tax in his Budget. Then, the Tung Wah cessation programme we subvented proves to be a huge success, whether in terms of number of smokers reached at, quitters enrolled, cessation rate or participation at the first ever joint training course with Mayo that is going on this week.

There is no question that the Tung Wah programme is very much at the centre of our present move. It is an initiative that builds on great innovations which have long existed in that organisation. Combination with the Group's growing desire to connect with the authority so as to continually improve its impact on society completes the loop. I am sure that we all much look forward to hearing about the cessation programme's development over the next two years. May I just use this opportunity, more than anything else, to congratulate all those who are doing so much valuable work in this field every possible success.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, nothing can give me greater pleasure than to declare this Seminar opened. I am sure that you would only be too glad that you have made the choice of coming tonight.

Before closing, as the Year of the Tiger is approaching, may I also take the opportunity to wish everyone here Kung Hei Fat Choy! Enjoy the talks!

Dr. Gloria TAM, JP
Deputy Director of Health