'The sooner the better' for ban on smoking
The Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill, which will ban smoking in indoor workplaces, restaurants, billiard rooms, karaoke venues and bars open to all ages, will go through its second and third readings in the Legislative Council when the legislative year resumes next month.
The new law, which is expected to come into effect on January 1, has come under attack from the catering and entertainment industries, which claim it will undermine their businesses.
The law will be extended to cover bars open only to those aged 18 and older, mahjong parlours, commercial bath houses, massage establishments, mahjong clubs and nightclubs on July 1, 2009. The government is also considering expanding the ban to parks and beaches.
Council on Smoking and Health executive director Wan Wai-yee said the sooner the ban came into force the better to protect the whole community from the harm of second-hand smoke.
Legislator Kwok Ka-ki, who represents the medical sector, said Legco was acting as quickly as it could to turn Hong Kong into a smoke-free city. But Dr Kwok said he was disappointed that the government was not yet ready to ban misleading cigarette trademarks such as light and mild.
The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said new misleading trademarks would not be allowed after the smoking bill was gazetted. But there were no plans to ban existing brands because to do so would infringe on registered trademarks.
In April, the bureau also proposed to Legco's bills committee a fixed-penalty system to impose a HK$1,500 fine on smokers who light up in non-smoking areas.
The proposal won support from anti-smoking advocates, who say it will save court time. Currently, smokers brought before a court can be fined up to HK$5,000, but are usually fined only HK$500 to HK$600.
