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Reply:
The Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) already designates some public places as statutory no smoking areas. This includes all public transport carriers, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, public lifts and amusement game centres. Smoking inside these areas is an offence attracting a maximum fine of $5,000.
The Ordinance also empowers the principal officer of any Government department or other organization specified in Schedule 3 to the Ordinance to designate any area under his control as a statutory no smoking area. At present, five Government departments are in the process of designating public parts of their premises as statutory no smoking areas.
We are now considering to amend the Ordinance to provide a mechanism for managers of restaurants, department stores, supermarkets, banks and shopping malls to designate all or part of the places under their control as statutory no smoking areas if they so wish.
We do not intend to make it compulsory for such places to be designated statutory no smoking areas because enforcement will initially rest with the managers themselves. They are in the best position to determine whether or not their premises should be no smoking, and how to enforce the prohibition if imposed.
While offices cannot be regarded as "public areas", we are still encouraging private organizations to provide a healthy working environment for their staff by making their offices smokefree. This can be done administratively. To set an example, all Government premises have been smokefree since 1 April 1996. The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health has also been promoting the concept of a smokefree workplace among private organizations. It has invited private organizations to sign its "Smokefree Workplace Charter" to signify their pledge to make their organization a smokefree workplace. Up to November 1996, a total of 73 organizations have signed the Charter. We believe that with the gradual building up of a smokefree culture through legislation and education, more and more organizations will voluntarily provide a smokefree environment for their staff and customers.
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