Managers said yesterday that they did not know how to enforce a new law - expected to take effect this month - that requires large restaurants to designate no-smoking areas.
It will require restaurants with more than 200 seats to designate at least one-third of them as a no-smoking area.
The amendment to the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance was originally scheduled to be enforced last month.
But it was delayed because the Government wanted it to take effect with new health warnings which are still being finalised.
A spokesman for the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, which has held talks with health officials on the issue, said the new law was expected to be introduced by the middle of the month.
Under the amended ordinance, restaurant managers can ask customers lighting cigarettes in no-smoking areas to stop smoking or leave.
The managers can also detain offenders and ask for police help.
