Originally Posted by fth:
Customs duty on tobacco only was $2,833.05m in 2007 and $3,069.35m in 2008 on page 29 of the annual report of the Customs & Excise department. Non smokers don't pay that unless they like hoarding the packs or something.
http://www.customs.gov.hk/pdf/pdf_pu...07-2008_EN.pdf
Smoking prevalence is 11.8% in Hong Kong according to the tobacco control office.
TCO - Tobacco use in Hong Kong
Population of Hong Kong is just under 7 million
Google - public data
Using basic maths and not some conspiracy theory. Lets go
3000m / (7m x 12%) = HK$ 3,571 per person per annum.
The costs were taken from an anti-smoking institution. They did not say who paid for what.
Early death - there's life insurance, people pay their own
Private health - smokers pay for that themselves
Public Health - HK$2,521m paid out of central government who just received HK$3bn from smokers.
Lost work days - HK$420m (HK$ 500 per smoker per annum)
Please get some accurate numbers like I did or shut up.