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Smoking ban to be extended to 131 public transport facilities from December

The smoking ban is to be extended to 129 open-air and two covered public transport facilities (PTFs) from December 1, 2010, to further protect the public from second-hand smoke, following passage of the Smoking (Public Health) (Designation of No Smoking Areas) (Amendment) Notice 2010 in the Legislative Council yesterday.

The Amendment Notice, which designates 131 PTFs as no-smoking areas from December 1, 2010, was gazetted on July 9, 2010.

A spokesman for the Tobacco Control Office (TCO) of the Department of Health (DH) said that publicity activities will be launched to promote public awareness and compliance.

"The TCO will start installing no-smoking signs and floor plans of no- smoking areas in the PTFs concerned from late October, followed by a territory-wide publicity campaign," he said.

The original and copy of the plans of 131 Public Transport Interchanges (PTIs) are deposited in the Land Registry and TCO respectively for public inspection.

The smoking ban in PTFs is being implemented in phases. Smoking has been banned at 54 indoor and 48 covered PTIs since January 1, 2007, and September 1, 2009, respectively.

Under the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Ordinance, any person who smokes or carries a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe in designated no- smoking areas or in public transport carriers will be issued with a $1,500 fixed penalty notice.

The TCO has issued over 120 fixed penalty notices in covered PTFs since September 1, 2009.

The spokesman said that the Government spared no effort in stepping up publicity for smoking cessation. He called on smokers to quit smoking for the sake of their own and others' health.

Members of the public may seek smoking cessation services through the DH's integrated smoking cessation hotline at 1833 183, which provides access to services of the DH, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Hospital Authority as well as the Pok Oi smoking cessation service using traditional Chinese medicine.