Deputy Director of Health Dr TH Leung said the Government will ensure that designated areas under its management stay smoke-free when the anti-smoking law launches January 1.

An inter-departmental meeting was held today to ensure good co-ordination among the departments enforcing the law.

Under the new legislative requirements, all indoor areas in workplaces, public places, restaurants, markets, and most areas in public pleasure grounds will be designated no-smoking areas.

"Both smokers and venue management should understand the need for such a legislation, and we will enforce it in a polite manner," Dr Leung said.

The Food & Environmental Hygiene and Leisure & Cultural Services Departments will ensure venues under their management have adequate no-smoking signs and other appropriate means to alert the public of the new legislative requirements. As venue managers, they are empowered to implement the smoking ban in the no-smoking areas under their management.

No-smoking areas

No-smoking areas under the FEHD include the indoor areas of public markets, hawker bazaars and cooked-food hawker bazaars, refuse collection points, aqua privies, public toilets, columbaria and crematoria.

No-smoking areas under LCSD are beaches, swimming pools, stadiums, sports grounds, sports centres, museums, libraries, civic centres, and most parks and playgrounds.

The Director of Leisure & Cultural Services is empowered under the ordinance to designate smoking areas in public pleasure grounds. After consulting 18 District Councils, the department will designate smoking areas in 255 public pleasure grounds out of a total of 1,447 in the city.

These smoking areas will be clearly demarcated from other areas of the public pleasure grounds. There will also be clear maps and signs in the venues showing their locations.

Venue managers briefed

Venue managers are authorised to order anyone to stop smoking in the no-smoking areas and, for those who refuse to co-operate, to request their identity and to leave the no-smoking area.

The Tobacco Control Office has held workshops for venue managers to help them understand the new requirements. Implementation guides have been distributed to help them conduct anti-smoking measures.

To report smoking offences call 2961 8823 from 9am to 10pm, Monday to Saturday.