​The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health announced today (October 28) that frontline TACO officers will start using smart tools for issuing fixed penalty notices (FPNs) from October 30. This initiative will streamline procedures, improve data accuracy and enhance enforcement efficiency.
      
     Frontline TACO officers are empowered to enforce the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371), which includes taking prosecution actions against individuals who smoke in statutory no-smoking areas or on public transport carriers.
      
     Currently, TACO officers need to manually fill in offenders' personal details on printed FPNs during enforcement. Staff in the back office then check the information and input it into the backend system.
      
     Starting October 30, when issuing FPNs to offenders, TACO officers will be able to scan offenders' Hong Kong identity (HKID) cards using an electronic system, which will instantly import the offender's personal details, such as name and HKID number, into the FPN. The system will also automatically record the time, location and details of the enforcement officers. Officers will print the FPNs on the spot using portable printers and issue them to the offenders. The data will be automatically synchronised with the backend system, saving processing time and manpower needs in the back office while improving overall efficiency.
      
     Neither TACO officers nor the relevant mobile application will store images of the offenders' HKID cards. The personal data collected during enforcement will remain the same as that currently recorded manually.
      
     The Director of Health, empowered under section 17A of the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Ordinance (Cap. 600), has specified the formats for both handwritten and mobile-printed FPNs (see Annex). Although the two versions of FPNs differ slightly in format, their content is identical and both carry the same legal effect. Offenders may still be issued handwritten FPNs by TACO or other law enforcement departments.

Ends/Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Issued at HKT 14:00

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