A marathon debate on a controversial smoking bill that would move Hong Kong closer to becoming a smoke-free city was adjourned last night with no decision taken.
The bill passed its second reading by late afternoon with 52 members in favour and two abstentions, among the 55 legislators present. But the 10-hour debate ended at 10pm and will resume today.
Health chief York Chow Yat-ngok told lawmakers there were four main objectives in amending the bill. The first was to expand no-smoking areas to protect people from second-hand smoke in indoor workplaces, including all restaurants, bars and karaoke lounges, as well as public parks.
The bill also seeks to further restrict tobacco advertising and sales; further regulate the packaging and labelling of tobacco products; and to give Tobacco Control Office inspectors the power to enter premises to collect and seize evidence.
Dr Chow said the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) 2005 bill, which followed a consultation paper first tabled in 1999, was part of the government's 'incremental approach' to tobacco control policy taken since the 1980s.
'We have been adopting an incremental approach - with regard to the international development and the situation in Hong Kong - to the control of smoking through various means and rigorous restrictions on tobacco advertising,' Dr Chow said.
Hong Kong's smoking population fell from 23 per cent in the 1980s to 14 per cent last year.