Press Releases

SHWF meets catering industry on smoke-free policy

        The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, today (January 21) met with Member of the Legislative Council, Mr. Tommy Cheung, and representatives of the catering industry to listen to their views on extending the statutory no smoking areas.

 

        At the meeting, representatives of the catering industry expressed concern that the total smoking ban might have a negative impact on their business and that there would be enforcement problems with the implementation of the ban.

 

        Dr Chow said the legislative intent had been debated for a long time, adding that the community was in consensus with the Government's smoke-free proposals to protect public health against second-hand smoking.

 

       Dr Chow said overseas experience in Europe and America (including the states of New York and California in the USA, Sydney of Australia and Ireland) showed total smoking ban in the long run would not have a negative impact on business. The business in some states such as New York and California had registered a growth instead, he added.

 

        Dr Chow agreed to provide further information on overseas experience to the industry for reference.

 

        Regarding worries over the enforcement problems, Dr Chow explained that food premises operators would not have to shoulder any legal responsibility for eradicating smoking offences, adding that only smokers who breached the smoking offences would risk prosecution.

 

        Understanding that some catering operators still had doubts on the total smoking ban and reservations on the implementation timetable, Dr Chow said he was prepared to continue communicate with them and to understand their worries.

 

        He reasserted that in amending the law, the legislative intent had to be clear, the provisions had to be clear as well as making sure it would be feasible. He also noted that suitable ancillary and educational arrangements would be put in place as far as possible to assist the trade to adapt to the new legal requirements.

 

        Regarding the legislative timetable, Dr Chow hoped the bill could be introduced into the Legislative Council in the second quarter of this year.

       

Ends/Friday, January 21, 2005

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