DH conducts joint operation with Police against waterpipe smoking in no smoking areas (with photos)
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The TACO conducted a series of operation against illegal waterpipe smoking in bars/restaurants since April. Officers had visited more than 100 bars/restaurants in Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok for promoting the compliance with relevant smoking prohibitions, and targeted inspections and enforcement operations were mounted subsequently. Together with the operation last night, a total of 27 FPNs have been issued to persons doing a smoking act in indoor area of eight bars/restaurants. Prosecution would also be brought against those operators of the concerned bars/restaurants and their staff who aided and abetted smoking offences according to the Criminal Procedure Ordinance.
Under the Ordinance, conducting a smoking act in statutory no smoking area (such as indoor areas of bar or restaurants) is prohibited. Any person doing a smoking act in statutory no smoking areas are liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. Besides, where tobacco products (including waterpipe) are sold, in bars or otherwise, restrictions on the sale and promotion of tobacco products stipulated in the Ordinance apply. Venue managers of statutory no smoking areas are empowered by the Ordinance to request the smoking offender to cease the act; if the offender is not co-operative, he/she may contact the Police for assistance.
Also, under Criminal Procedure Ordinance, any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission by another person of any offence shall be guilty of the like offence. A spokesman for the DH appeals to operators and venue mangers of bars/restaurants not to assist any person in breaching the statutory smoking prohibition, or provide waterpipe apparatus and tobacco to customers for use.
A DH spokesman stressed that the TACO will follow up and investigate every complaint about illegal smoking and will conduct inspections and take enforcement actions in the venue concerned. It will also conduct joint inspections and enforcement actions (including plain-clothes operation) with other law enforcement agencies from time to time with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement. The DH will continue to closely monitor and to take stringent enforcement actions to tackle illegal waterpipe smoking.
Due to deeper inhalation and longer smoking session, waterpipe users usually inhale more toxins than they would when smoking cigarettes. For more information on the hazards of waterpipe smoking, please visit www.livetobaccofree.hk/pdfs/waterpipe_leaflet_new.pdf. The spokesman cautions against waterpipe smoking or the use of other smoking products. Smokers should quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others.
Ends/Saturday, May 6, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:00
Issued at HKT 16:00
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