Sydney model for outdoor ban

The SAR is considering following the smoke-free policy adopted for the Sydney Olympics last year and banning smoking at all outdoor sports venues, including the 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium.

Secretary for Home Affairs Lam Woon-kwong said yesterday discussions were under way with major tenants of public sports venues on whether to expand no-smoking areas to all outdoor sports facilities.

'As the theme of the last Olympic Games held in Sydney was environmental protection, smoking was prohibited in all the sports venues except for designated smoking areas.' Mr Lam said in reply to a Legco query on smoking bans at sports venues.

The latest anti-smoking suggestion follows a government proposal this month to amend the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance to turn Hong Kong into a no-smoking city. Under the proposal smoking would be banned in most indoor places, including offices, shops, factories, restaurants, bars and karaoke lounges.

Currently, smoking is banned at all indoor sports venues and at some government-run outdoor facilities, such as children's playgrounds and swimming pools.

Over the three days of this year's Rugby Sevens tournament one complaint from a total of 95,600 spectators was received about smoking in an outdoor stand, Mr Lam confirmed. The stadium bans smoking indoors.