The Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2005, which provides better protection against passive smoke and restricts advertising, will be gazetted April 29 and tabled at the Legislative Council on May 11.

The Health, Welfare & Food Bureau said there have been calls for more stringent control over the use and promotion of tobacco.

The bill proposes to extend the statutory smoking ban to cover restaurants, bars, karaoke establishments, mahjong premises, commercial bathhouses, universities and post-secondary institutions, residential care homes for the elderly, workplaces and public places.

Grace period

The bill provides a 90-day adaptation period from the enactment of the bill for premises affected by the expansion of statutory no-smoking areas. The bill also requires packets or retail containers of tobacco products bear health warnings with pictorial and graphic content.

Manpower at the Department of Health's Tobacco Control Office will be doubled and its work will be realigned to undertake new enforcement duties, publicity and education work.

The total expenditure for the office in 2005-06 will be $17.5 million, while another $11.1 million will be allocated to the Council on Smoking & Health for promotional and educational activities in building a smoke-free community.