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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1986
MANAGEMENTS URGED TO ENFORCE NO SMOKING AREA BAN
*****
MANAGEMENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR NO SMOKING AREAS ARE URGED TODAY (TUESDAY) TO TAKE ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST PERSONS SMOKING IN THESE AREAS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE REMINDER WAS ISSUED AS PART OF THE 1986-87 ANTI-SMOKING PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN.
ALTHOUGH THE LAW HAD BEEN IN FORCE FOR THREE YEARS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED, SOME STAFF ON THE GROUND, SUCH AS CINEMA OPERATORS AND EMPLOYEES OF BUS COMPANIES, MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF THE POWERS OF ENFORCEMENT WITH WHICH THEY HAD BEEN ENTRUSTED.
A CIRCULAR LETTER HAS THEREFORE BEEN SENT BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE RECENTLY TO MANAGEMENTS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, CINEMAS AND AUDITORIUMS AND PUBLIC LIFTS, EXPLAINING THE LEGISLATION AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO TAKE ACTION WHERE NECESSARY.
+ENFORCEMENT IS NOT DIFFICULT AND CAN BE CARRIED OUT BY
OPERATIONAL STAFF, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+ ANYONE WHO IS SMOKING IN A NO SMOKING AREA CAN BE ASKED TO CEASE AND IF THEY REFUSE, THEN STAFF HAVE A RIGHT TO DEMAND THEIR IDENTITY CARDS AND REPORT THEM TO THE POLICE,+ HE ADDED.
HE SAID THAT REFUSAL TO PRODUCE PROOF OF IDENTITY IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WAS A SERIOUS OFFENCE WITH A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF $3 000.
+THIS IS AN UNUSUAL TYPE OF LAW, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, +SUITED TO AN UNUSUAL TYPE OF OFFENCE WHICH IS ON THE ONE HAND MIÑOR AND YET ON THE OTHER HAND A SERIOUS NUISANCE AS WELL AS POSING A HEALTH RISK.+
HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE MANAGEMENT STAFF OF BUILDINGS AND TRANSPORT USED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC HELP TO STOP ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR OF THIS KIND.
ATTACHED TO THE CIRCULAR LETTER IS A SIMPLE FORM WHICH CAN BE USED BY STAFF TO BRING OFFENDERS TO JUSTICE.
+WE HOPE THAT THIS REMINDER WILL STOP SMOKING IN NO SMOKING AREAS, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
+ BUT THERE IS STILL A NEED FOR MORE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION BY THE PUBLIC, IN DEALING WITH THOSE WHO PERSIST IN IGNORING THE HARM THEY ARE DOING TO OTHERS QUITE APART FROM THEMSELVES, HE ADDED.
HE URGED THE PUBLIC TO MAKE USE OF THE SIMPLE ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES AVAILABLE, BY DRAWING THE ATTENTION OF MANAGEMENT TO SUCH OFFENDERS.
VARIOUS GOVERNMENT ACTIONS AND THE PUBLICITY STEPPED UP IN THIS YEAR'S ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGN AIM TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE DANGERS OF SMOKING, WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO BE THE CAUSE OF 3 000 PREMATURE DEATHS A YEAR IN HONG KONG.
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