YOUR correspondents (South China Morning Post, January 12) accuse me of being naive in expecting managements and public transport operators to enforce laws against smoking. They suggested that the Government should deploy an army of plain clothes inspectors instead. It may surprise these correspondents to learn that managements and public transport operators do act on complaints and that prosecutions and convictions have been secured as a result. However, the point that many seem to overlook is that the main focus of the Government's package of anti-smoking measures is not enforcement. Emphasis has always been on public education. I would rather see people stop smoking everywhere because they know it may harm them, rather than stop smoking in designated places because it is illegal. DEREK B. GOULD for Secretary for Health and Welfare
