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

The smoking ban will be extended to 129 open air and two covered public transport facilities (PTFs) from tomorrow (December 1) in accordance with the Smoking (Public Health) (Designation of No Smoking Areas) (Amendment) Notice 2010.

A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) said the extension aimed at further protecting the public from the harm of second-hand smoke.

No-smoking signs and floor plans have been put up at Public Transport Interchanges (PTIs) to remind the public of the smoke-free requirements. Publicity activities have also been launched to promote public awareness and compliance.

Originals and copies of the plans of the 131 PTIs are available in Land Registry and Tobacco Control Offices (TCO) respectively, and have been uploaded onto TCO's website for public inspection.

The smoking ban in the PTIs 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.

From January 2007 to October 2010, TCO conducted over 64000 inspections of no smoking areas and issued over 15000 summonses and 8000 fixed penalty notices against smoking offence.

Over 160 fixed penalty notices in gazetted (covered) PTFs have been issued during the period September 1, 2009 to October 31, 2010.

The spokesman called on smokers to quit smoking for the sake of their own and others' health.

"They are encouraged to make use of smoking cessation services through the DH's Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline (1833183)," he said.