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Hong Kong stubs out smoking
01/01/2007 08:49 - (SA)
Hong Kong - At the stroke of midnight, cigarettes were banned by law in pubs, restaurants and most public places here.
Lighting up in parks, on public beaches and in most indoor areas in the city of 6.8 million is now punishable with a fine of HK$5 000 (about R4 500).
The introduction of the smoking ban on January 1 left revellers facing the prospect of breaking the law and being fined if they kept a cigarette alight after 23:59 on December 31.
Although officials threatened to swoop as soon as the ban came into effect, there were no early reports of prosecutions among more than 400 000 New Year revellers in the former British colony.
Anti-smoking squads
The introduction of the ban follows years of wrangling between anti-smoking campaigners and the hospitality industry, which argued it would force bars and restaurants out of business.
Squads of anti-smoking officers now plan to do spot checks in parks and other public places, such as sports stadiums and playgrounds, to enforce the new law.
Restaurant owners are particularly concerned that the ban will keep away heavy-smoking mainland Chinese tourists who account for more than 50% of the city's visitor numbers.
Concessions were won for nightclubs and mahjong parlours, which are exempted until 2009.
Bars that serve food and allow only those over age 18 inside also can apply for an exemption.
By December 31, nearly 1 000 applications for exemptions had been filed by bars and 795 had been approved - bringing criticism from the anti-smoking lobby that a major loophole is being exploited.
Hospitality industry legislator Tommy Cheung argued that the impact would be greatest on restaurants, which were not eligible for exemptions, unlike bars.
Chow Ko-cho, 53, who smokes 40 cigarettes a day, told Monday's South China Morning Post: "Smokers are allowed to buy cigarettes, but forbidden to light them up. It is ridiculous."
Meanwhile, it was reported from London that Britain was to raise the legal age for buying tobacco from 16 to 18.
Prime Minister Tony Blair's government announced on Monday that the move would come into effect on October 1, three months after a ban on smoking in enclosed public places was introduced.
This meant the legal age for buying cigarettes and alcohol was now the same and put Britain on the same footing as countries including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The goverment hoped the increased age limit would make it easier for shop workers to spot under-age customers.
Health minister Caroline Flint said: "Buying cigarettes has been too easy for under-16s and this is partly due to retailers selling tobacco to those under the legal age.
"The law change demonstrates our determination to stop this and to reduce the number of teenagers who smoke."
UK fines 'are pitiful'
The announcement was welcomed by campaigners, but some warned that more had to be done to punish retailers who sold to under-age teenagers.
Deborah Arnott, director of anti-smoking group ASH, said: "The fines are pitiful - in 2004, only about 50 retailers were fined for selling to those under-age."
Official figures show that nine percent of British 11 to 15-year-olds smoke. - Sapa/dpa/AFP
- News24
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