No Ifs, No Puffs

It would be marvelous if Hong Kong could lead the way to make all golf tournaments in Hong Kong smoke-free events

As a Member of the Hong Kong Golf Club since the 1960s, and a Member of Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club since its first year of opening, I would like to applaud Mike Wilson’s long-overdue article in the April issue on the poor health image of golfers due to their and their caddies’ cigarette smoking in front of crowds.

It would be marvelous if Hong Kong could lead the way to make all golf tournaments in Hong Kong smoke-free events.

The golf club areas in Hong Kong are now substantially smoke-free, there are no cigarette vendors at the clubs, tobacco sponsorship of golf has now been banned (I think totally) - so why not encourage HK golf to be ‘a more vibrant, health-conscious and contemporary sport’ and declare our Hong Kong golf tournaments smoke-free events (like the Olympic Games).

This is especially important as more and more of Hong Kong youth are taking up golf, and attending the tournaments. Seeing golfers and caddies puffing away is hardly presenting a good role model to them.

Prof. Dr Judith Mackay

OBE, SBS, JP, MBChB (Edin), FRCP (Edin), FRCP (Lon)

Director, Asian Consultancy on Tobacco Control

Written by The Editors

Photography by AFP

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