Press Releases

Government communicates with entertainment sector on indoor smoking ban

In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said today (May 24) that the Government understood the worries of the entertainment establishments which were required to implement indoor smoking ban on July 1.

"We have been communicating with the relevant industry to learn more about their concerns and see what assistance can be offered to ease their concerns.

"In fact, the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, met them last month to heed their views. The Tobacco Control Office of the Department of Health had also contacted a number of representatives of the industry to help them adapt to the ban," the spokesman said.

The spokesman explained that the policy objective of imposing a full indoor smoking ban in bars, clubs, nightclubs, bathhouses, massage establishments and mahjong-tin kau premises was to protect public health.

He said the policy was meant to protect the employees and guests of these six establishments from suffering second-hand smoke, just like the other people in the community.

"Experience of other places showed that smoking ban will not have any serious negative impact on the business of bars or entertainment establishments. Instead, a number of establishments have attracted guests who are non-smokers or dislike second-hand smoke after the implementation of the ban.

"The overall business turnover of local food premises and karaokes has surged by nearly 30 per cent in the past two years since the smoking ban in 2007. We hope the industry would not be over-worried," he said.

"While the other indoor places implemented a smoking ban on January 1, 2007, the above six establishments were allowed to implement the ban two-and-a-half years later, i.e. July 1 this year, to have more time to prepare for the new measure," the spokesman added.


Ends/Sunday, May 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:24

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