Elderly Smoking Cessation Promotion Project 2019-2020 Reminds the Elderly "Never Too Late to Quit"

To promote smoke-free lifestyle among the elderly, the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) organized the Elderly Smoking Cessation Promotion Project in 2019-2020. In its appreciation ceremony held today, public health experts and guests engaged in dialogues on the benefits of quitting smoking. Compliments were also paid to the community partners and Smoke-free Elderly Ambassadors for their continuous support to the project and participation in spreading out smoke-free messages.

Often, the elderly lack access to information regarding smoking cessation, depriving them of the means for effective methods to quit smoking even if they are motivated to do so. Therefore, since 2012, COSH has been committed to promote smoking cessation among the elderly by organizing health talks, community publicity activities, media promotion, training sessions and workshops to enhance their awareness and encourage elderly smokers to quit.

Officiating guests of the ceremony were Dr FUNG Ying (Head of Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office, Department of Health), Dr LAM Ching-choi, SBS, JP (Chairman, Elderly Commission), Mr Antonio KWONG, MH (COSH Chairman) and Ms Yolanda NG, MH (COSH Vice-chairman). Artists Mr Andy LEUNG and Mr On CHAN also took part in the ceremony to promote smoke-free messages through interactive games.

"The elderly should keep striving for quality of life after retirement. I am sure that nothing trumps good health in order to achieve this," said Mr Antonio KWONG (COSH Chairman). "Support from family and friends and willpower are also of great importance in leading to a successful quit attempt and healthy life, even in their elder years," he added. The Elderly Smoking Cessation Promotion Project 2019-2020 organized a series of community engagement and media promotion activities to enhance smokers’ determination to quit and mobilize non-smokers, particularly the elderly, to lend support to quitters.

Health experts appealed the elderly to engage in promoting a smoke-free lifestyle. Dr LAM Ching-choi (Chairman, Elderly Commission) shared health information with the elderly and motivated them to act as Smoke-free Elderly Ambassadors and show encouragement to quitters. Prof LAM Tai-hing, BBS, JP (Chair Professor of Community Medicine & Sir Robert Kotewall Professor in Public Health, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong) further cleared the myths of smoking cessation and demonstrated the methods to encourage those around them to quit.

Recruited by New Territories West Elder Academies Cluster (NTWEAC) and Asbury Methodist Social Services, 42 Smoke-free Elderly Ambassadors joined the Project this year and created tailor-made social media image messages to encourage others to quit smoking. Successful elderly quitters from NTWEAC and their family members were invited to share their experiences regarding cessation and the hazards of secondhand smoking. Their sharing were also aired on radio.

Photo Captions:


Officiating guests encourage smokers to take heart and initiative to quit smoking so as to provide a healthier environment for their families.


Prof LAM Tai-hing, BBS, JP (Chair Professor of Community Medicine & Sir Robert Kotewall Professor in Public Health, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong) shares tips on smoking cessation.


Smoke-free Elderly Ambassadors share their thoughts and experiences in regard to smoking cessation and the harms of secondhand smoking.


Artists Mr Andy LEUNG and Mr On CHAN deliver messages on health and smoking cessation through interactive games.