XN000022-1983-08-12 — Page 5

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 1983

- 4.

HE ADDED: +A SECOND SALES EXERCISE WAS MOUNTED IN APRIL BUT THE RESULT REMAINED UNSATISFACTORY AND IT WAS THEN DECIDED THAT MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING SCHEMES WOULD NOT BE BUILT IN FUTURE.

+ IT HAS NOW BEEN DECIDED THAT THE MELODY GARDEN FLATS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO MORE PEOPLE BY WIDENING CONSIDERABLY THE ELIGIBILITY RULES.+

THE HOME OWNERSHIP AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEMES CONTINUE TO BE EXTREMELY POPULAR AND EVERY SALES EXERCISE HAS BEEN OVERSUBSCRIBED. IN THE LATEST SALES EXERCISE FOR PHASE VA OF THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME 20 968 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED FOR THE 4 925 FLATS AVAILABLE. THERE IS NO INTENTION OF CHANGING THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA OF THESE SCHEMES, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

CIGARETTES REQUIRED TO CARRY HEALTH WARNING

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CIGARETTE MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS WERE REMINDED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT IT WILL BE AN OFFENCE FROM MONDAY (AUGUST 15) TO SELL, OFFER OR POSSESS FOR SALE CIGARETTES IN PACKETS OR RETAIL CONTAINERS WHICH DO NOT CARRY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HEAL TH WARNING AND THE APPROPRIATE TAR GROUP RATING.

IT WOULD ALSO BE AN OFFENCE TO SELL, OFFER OR POSSESS FOR SALE ANY CIGARETTE TOBACCO WHOSE CONTAINER DOES NOT CARRY THE HEALTH WARNING.

THOSE WHO FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT ARE LIABLE ON SUMMARY CONVICTION TO A FINE OF $5 000.

IN ISSUING THIS REMINDER, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THESE ARE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE SMOKING (PUBLIC HEALTH) ORDINANCE, PART 1 OF WHICH COMES INTO OPERATION ON AUGUST 15,

DETAILS OF THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AND COMMENCEMENT DATES WERE PUBLISHED ON AUGUST 13, 1982, WHILE THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WAS GAZETTED ON JULY 30, 1982.

THE FIRST STAGE OF THE ANTI-SMOKING LAWS, WHICH CAME INTO EFFECT ON NOVEMBER 15, 1982, PROVIDED FOR ADVERTISEMENTS IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER PRINTED MATTERS PUBLISHED OR DISTRIBUTED IN HONG KONG TO CARRY THE HEALTH WARNING AND THE TAR GROUP DESIGNATION.

AS FROM FEBRUARY 15, MOST OTHER TYPES OF CIGARETTE

ADVERTISEMENTS WERE REQUIRED TO CARRY THE HEALTH WARNING, AND THIS WAS EXTENDED TO NEON SIGNS FROM MAY 15.

NO-SMOKING AREAS ARE NOW REQUIRED TO BE DESIGNATED IN FERRIES, TRAINS AND CINEMAS, CONCERT HALLS AND THEATRES,

SMOKING IS ALSO PROHIBITED IN PUBLIC LIFTS, SINGLE-DECKER ROAD PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND ON THE LOWER DECK OF DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES AND TRAMS.

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