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An inter-departmental meeting was held today (December 27) to ensure good co-ordination among government departments involved in enforcing the new legislative requirements under the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Ordinance that will come into effect on January 1, 2007.
Speaking at a press conference after chairing the meeting, the Deputy Director of Health, Dr TH Leung, said that the departments concerned, which included the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the Police and Customs and Excise Department, would make every effort to ensure that the designated areas under their management stayed smoke-free.
"Under the new legislative requirements, all indoor areas in workplaces, public places, restaurants, markets, and most areas in public pleasure grounds would be designated as no-smoking areas," he added.
Dr Leung appealed to members of the public to comply with the legislative requirements and to cooperate with venue managers in maintaining a smoke-free environment.
"Both the smokers and venue managements should understand the need for such a legislation, and we will enforce it in a polite manner."
He said both the FEHD and LCSD would make sure venues under their management had adequate no-smoking signs and other appropriate means (like maps) to alert the public of the new legislative requirements. He said that as venue managers, they were empowered to implement the smoking ban in the no-smoking areas under their management.
Also speaking at the press conference were Mr Benjamin Mok, Senior Administrative Officer (Environmental Hygiene) of the FEHD and Mr Rick Chan, Senior Staff Officer (Headquarters) of LCSD.
Mr Mok said,"No-smoking areas under the FEHD include the indoor areas of public markets, hawker bazaars and cooked-food hawker bazaars, refuse collection points, aqua privies, public toilets, columbaria and crematoria.
"To prepare for the implementation of the smoking ban at indoor areas of its venues, the FEHD has conducted or will conduct briefings for its staff, market tenants and hawkers at hawker bazaars. The FEHD will also put up no-smoking signs."
Mr Chan said, "No-smoking areas under LCSD are beaches, swimming pools, stadiums, sports grounds, sports centres, museums, libraries, civic centres, and most parks and playgrounds.
"The Director of Leisure and Cultural Services is empowered under the ordinance to designate smoking areas in public pleasure grounds. After consulting 18 District Councils, the LCSD will designate smoking areas in 255 public pleasure grounds out of a total of 1,447 in the territory. These smoking areas will be clearly demarcated from other areas of the public pleasure grounds. There will also be clear maps and signs in the venues showing their locations."
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 his/her name and address, to ask them to produce proof of identity; and to leave the no-smoking area.
While the Police are ready to offer assistance when needed, the Customs and Excise Department will continue to enforce relevant sections under the ordinance, including the enforcement control of sales of cigarettes and tobacco products.
Dr Leung said, "Staff of the Tobacco Control Office (TCO) of the Department of Health have held workshops for venue managers to help them understand the new requirements. Implementation guides have been distributed to help them carry out no-smoking measures.
"TCO staff also conducted onsite inspections to advise venue managers on the implementation of the smoking ban and to advise them on prosecuting offenders.
"No-smoking signs and publicity materials have been provided for display and distribution at various venues. Exhibition panels will be set up in the no-smoking areas to remind members of the public of the legislative requirements," he added.
Members of the public may report smoking offences to the TCO through the Complaint and Enquiry hotline 2961 8823 manned by Tobacco Control Inspectors, from 9am to 10pm from Monday to Saturday. They may leave a message outside the operating hours for follow-up action.
Ends/Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:55
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