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.EDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1986
+IN ADDITION, NOT LESS THAN 50 PER CENT OF EACH CLASS OF SEATING ACCOMMODATION IN OTHER TYPES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT VEHICLES SUCH AS FERRIES AND TRAINS AND IN CINEMAS, THEATRES, AND CONCERT HALLS MUST BE SET ASIDE AS NO-SMOKING AREAS, HE SAID.
+WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN 1982, THE EXTENT OF NO-SMOKING AREAS IN PUBLIC PLACES AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES WAS DETERMINED HAVING REGARD TO THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION WERE NON-SMOKERS.+
CONSIDERATION WAS ALSO GIVEN TO PUBLIC OPINION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NO-SMOKING AREAS, TO THE PRACTICABILITY OF DIVIDING A PLACE OR VEHICLE INTO SMOKING AND NO SMOKING SECTIONS, AND TO ENFORCEMENT DIFFICULTIES, HE SAID.
+THESE CONSIDERATIONS ARE STILL VALID.+
MR CHAMBERS SAID THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR SMOKING IN A NO-SMOKING AREA WAS $1 000, WHILE THE PENALTY FOR FAILING TO PRODUCE PROOF OF IDENTITY OR GIVING A FALSE NAME OR ADDRESS WAS $3 000,
+THESE PENALTIES APPEAR TO BE ADEQUATE AT PRESENT, BUT THE NEED TO RAISE THEM AT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE WILL BE KEPT IN MIND, HE SAID.
HE SAID THE INITIATIVE IN TAKING ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST PEOPLE WHO SMOKED IN NO-SMOKING AREAS RESTED MAINLY WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PUBLIC PLACE OR TRANSPORT SERVICE CONCERNED.
+THEY WERE GIVEN POWERS UNDER THE SMOKING (PUBLIC HEALTH) ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE AN OFFENDER TO CEASE SMOKING, AND IF HE FAILS TO DO SO, TO REQUIRE HIM TO GIVE HIS NAME AND ADDRESS AND TO PRODUCE PROOF OF IDENTITY.+
HE SAID: +ASSISTANCE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE RELEVANT
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS OR THE POLICE.+
+THE MANAGEMENTS CONCERNED WERE INFORMED OF THE POWERS VESTED IN THEM BY THE ORDINANCE, THE DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS FOR ENFORCEMENT AND THE ASSISTANCE THEY COULD OBTAIN FROM THE GOVERNMENT, BY A CIRCULAR LETTER ISSUED IN FEBRUARY 1983.
+A SIMILAR CIRCULAR LETTER WILL BE ISSUED SHORTLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MAJOR PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN ON ANTI-SMOKING THIS YEAR, HE ADDED.