The city's first smoke-free pub, Dublin Jack, which is facing prosecution because patrons wanting a puff are obstructing the street, received an award for its efforts from the health minister yesterday.
York Chow Yat-ngok presented a certificate of merit with special recognition to Noel Smyth, managing director of the pub's owner, Delaney's Development, at the Hong Kong Smoke Free Workplace Leading Company Awards.
The health secretary said he was aware of the strong opposition to the proposed ban on smoking in restaurants and bars.
'Some of the operators are quite supportive of the law,' he said. 'Banning smoking will bring more business to restaurants and bars, as people will have more money to order more food, and most smokers eat more after quitting smoking.'
Dublin Jack went smoke-free last August and enjoyed more revenue, as customers eat more when they are not allowed to smoke inside the pub.
More than 100 companies entered the competition organised by the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health and RTHK, with 17 receiving the top award for enforcing the smoke-free policy, eight certificates of merit with special recognition, Dublin Jack included, and 76 a certificate of merit.
Mr Smyth said he was very pleased despite a letter from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department accusing the pub of causing an obstruction.
