His pledge comes as Legco is about to consider a call for all workplaces to be smoke-free
The government would not back down from plans to ban smoking in restaurants, bars and other workplaces, the new health minister said yesterday.
York Chow Yat-ngok's vow came on the eve of debate on a controversial motion by newly appointed executive councillor and legislator Bernard Chan calling on the government 'to actively expedite the implementation of a total smoking ban in workplaces'.
Legislators Andrew Cheng Kar-foo and Albert Cheng King-hon filed amendments to the motion to specifically include restaurants, bars and karaokes in the ban.
Dr Chow, who was appointed last week as secretary for health, welfare and food, made plain his stand at a meeting yesterday with members of the Council on Smoking and Health.
According to council chairman Homer Tso Wei-kwok, Dr Chow is committed to a total ban.
'[Dr Chow] said he will include restaurants and bars [in the smoking ban]. It is definitely a go. He came clean, he told us, and reassured us,' Dr Tso said.
