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In response to media enquiries relating to the enforcement of smoking ban, a government spokesman said today (August 26) that the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) (Specification of Authorities and Public Officers) Notice had clearly listed the enforcement officers of the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Ordinance, which had been passed by the Legislative Council.
¡§We earnestly look forward to the enforcement of the ordinance by all concerned enforcement officers in accordance with the notice to safeguard public health,¡¨ the spokesman said.
As regards the preparation work before the ordinance comes into effect, the spokesman pointed out that the Tobacco Control Office (TCO) of the Department of Health, had, since March 2009, held enforcement training seminars for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and other government departments which had been tasked to enforce the anti-smoking law. So far, 17 training seminars have been held.
The spokesman said, ¡§The TCO has arranged enforcement training sessions for management and training officers from various government departments. They have also been invited to attend on-site enforcement training. It is hoped that these initiatives will facilitate the various departments in their internal training programme.¡¨
The LCSD has included enforcement of the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Ordinance into the prosecution training and refresher courses since April.
¡§Senior Tobacco Control Inspectors from the TCO and colleagues from LCSD¡¦s Licensing and Prosecution Unit were invited to explain the ordinance and the departmental guidelines in various training seminars organised from April to July.
¡§A series of prosecution training courses have been organised since July to provide comprehensive training to staff, ¡¨ the spokesman said.
The LCSD will continue to monitor the new enforcement work after its commencement in September and further provide suitable training to facilitate the work of colleagues.
¡§The TCO, together with other enforcing government departments, has drawn up guidelines for anti-smoking enforcement, and drafted an operation manual concerning the fixed penalty system. Information system operation training has also been provided to various government departments, ¡¨ the spokesman added.
Ends/Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:30
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