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Members of the public will be able to enjoy more smoke-free environment from the first day of the new year with the extension of the smoking ban under the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Ordinance which takes effect today (January 1).
Amendments in the Ordinance extended the smoking ban to a vast majority of indoor areas and empowered the Tobacco Control Inspectors (TCIs) of the Tobacco Control Office (TCO) under the Department of Health to take enforcement actions.
The Deputy Director of Health, Dr TH Leung, today said that TCIs had carried out operations throughout the New Year Eve and would continue during the New Year to help members of the public and venue managers adapt to the legislative changes of a smoke-free environment.
TCIs visited premises of different nature and sizes, including restaurants, bars, karaoke lounges and shops.
Dr Leung said, "During the operations, TCIs reminded members of the public to abide by the smoking ban while enjoying the festive mood and advised venue managers to provide a smoke-free environment to their staff and customers.
"TCIs will continue to carry out publicity and education activities and to take enforcement actions to promote a smoke-free environment and the new legislative requirements."
Dr Leung pointed out that venues that should stay smoke-free from today include all indoor areas of workplaces, public places, restaurants, bars for all ages, and karaoke lounges.
Extended no-smoking areas also cover indoor areas of public markets, hawker bazaars, cooked-food hawker bazaars, refuse collection points, and public toilets under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department as well as beaches, swimming pools, stadiums, sports grounds, sports centres, museums, libraries, civic centres, and most public pleasure grounds under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
Dr Leung said that venue managers of designated no-smoking areas are empowered to implement the smoking ban in the no-smoking areas under their management.
Venue managers are authorised to require any smoker to stop smoking in the no-smoking areas and, for those who refuse to cooperate, to request their names and addresses, to ask them to produce proof of identity; and to leave the no-smoking area. Anyone who has committed a smoking offence is subject to a maximum penalty of $5 000.
Dr Leung said, "Members of the public should be considerate to others and cooperate with venue managers for the smooth implementation of the legislative requirements.
"Both the smokers and venue managers should understand the rationale behind such a legislation which aims at further protecting people's health and preventing them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke."
In addition, Dr Leung reminded venue managers of six types of listed establishments which had notified the Director of Health to implement the smoking ban by July 1, 2009 the latest and to abide by the statutory requirements.
These establishments are bars for people aged 18 and above, bathhouses and massage establishments, nightclubs, designated mahjong rooms in qualified clubs, and Mahjong tin-kau premises.
TCO staff will initiate investigation if anyone reports that a listed establishment does not fulfill the statutory requirements of a qualified establishment or upon receipt of complaints.
Failure to abide by the legislative requirements may result in removal of the name and address of the establishment from the list of qualified establishments by the Director of Health, he added.
Members of the public may visit the TCO website http://www.tco.gov.hk for more details of the new legislative requirements.
Ends/Monday, January 1, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:48
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