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The Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance prescribes a maximum fine of $5,000 for smoking in a designated no-smoking area. This level is still considered appropriate.
The Administration has been progressively increasing the number of no- smoking areas. These now include all forms of public transport, cinemas, theatres, concert halls and places of public entertainment. Restaurants are not required to set aside a no-smoking area, but must display a sign informing customers whether or not such an area exists.
Where the wholesale designation of premises as statutory no-smoking areas is considered not practicable for the time being, the managers of such premises are encouraged to set aside such areas administratively (ie without statutory power to enforce). The Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 1996, which will be introduced into the Legislative Council shortly, will expand on this by giving the managers of restaurants, banks and retail premises the power to designate and enforce their own statutory no-smoking areas. The designation of such areas will therefore depend on managers being persuaded to do so by their patrons. Managers who designate no-smoking areas in this way are then more likely to diligently enforce smoking prohibitions than if controls had been unwillingly imposed on them.
As regards passive smoking, Government and a number of other Hong Kong employers last year signed the Smoke-free Workplace Charter drawn up by the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health. Starting from 1 April 1996, all Government workplaces, including both office and non-office environments, will become smoke- free. We hope that this will set an example for other employers to follow.
End
Implementation of good drugs manufacturing practice
Following is a question by the Hob Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
In line with what is done in the World Health Organisation and the neighbouring countries, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board now requires local drugs manufacturers to implement by stages the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: