Originally uploaded by: HerbaZ
HONG KONG – Smoking in workplaces, restaurants, karaoke bars and public places such as beaches and barbeque areas will be banned from the beginning of 2007 in Hong Kong, a news report said.
The ban will also include public parks but with a concession for smokers in the outdoors allowing designated smoking zones covering 1 per cent of the total area.
A report in the South China Morning Post quoted government sources as saying the law had enough support to ensure its passage through the legislative council.
A second stage extending the ban to cover bars open for those aged 18 and older, mahjong houses, massage parlours and nightclubs will follow in July 2009, it said.
The bill is due to go through its second and third readings at the legislative council on October 18.
Just about time with my Quit Smoking Campaign. I think this is a good move, at least not only me will be suffering on a cold turkey, but it’s the entire city. I’m going to feel numbed for sure. But wait, how about smoking in my own flat? Does the police will come knock and arrest me with a handcuff? I am sure this will not be the case. But all this ban will be a big challenge to the smokers and the tobacco manufacturer.
Accordingly, a spokesman of a rival tobacco company said that Philip Morris wanted a price war against this law, does this mean that the Government would pay these tobacco company a big amount of money to shut their silly mouth off from scrutinizing the Quit Smoking bill? Evidently, it will also drive away heavy-smoking tourists from China who make up the bulk of Hong Kong’s visitors and while it’s good for Hong Kong to become healthier, this new anti-smoking law had finally come into deadlines after a serious debate five years ago. I would certainly hope that the 7-11 stores should not operate their 24/7 services so I won’t be rushing down to buy a pack of blues.
Sorry, A-pah no more sneaking around the gate for a quick smoke. Well I hope this will not affect the business at all Restaurants, Nightclubs and Karaoke bars but I’m confident this new law will be successful. Smokers have no choice but to accept the fact that smoking can kill, literally. Perhaps, by next year, you will be seeing me wearing a Chinese silk pyjamas strutting side by side with the grannies at the Victoria Park on a Tai Chi morning exercise once the ban is implemented.
Sacrifice
by: Anouk
Filed under: Dailies, Fashion, Hong Kong, Memes… or something, On The News, Pet Peeves | 15 Comments
Dude, NYC does this, my home state of Jersey, and now my adopted state of Washington. No smoking anywhere public AND should you smoke you must be AT LEAST 25 feet (~8 metres) from the perimeter of the premises. I hate smoking – it is a money waster and the smell makes me nauseous – but, c’mon, it makes you smokers sorta like 2nd class citizens. I don’t want the smoke coming my way, but isn’t this, like, discrimination?
Hmm… Even here.. there’s this smoking and non-smoking areas in coffeeshops.. but please.. smokers do know that smoking is unhealthy for the non-smokers.. so they should be considerate enough not to be smoking infront of them. it gets me irritated when a smoker puffs infront of my babies!
Note: I’m not bias against them.. a third quarter of my close friends are smokers.
the politicians are discussing about it here too. pero teka lang muna, bakit ba sigarilyo lang ang nakatuon sa kanilang pansin? bakit ang alcoholic drinks hindi? if nicotine is unhealthy, alocohol too! the government and the society are trying to play down or ignore the highrocketing numbers of alcoholics around.
Australia has also done this. They totally banned it in bars because the bartenders had to work in this really unhealthy environment, which I was really happy about. Now they just make it “a part of a bar” where you can smoke. That is so stupid. Why don’t they just making smoking in bars stop? Period.
Hi K! Sorry I haven’t been by for awhile…
Those same exact anti-smoking laws will be enforced in November here in Honolulu. I wonder how Ryan will fair since he smokes…I do hope it will help him quit smoking…eventually
I wish that they banned smoking in colsed places ..
what is our falt to breath smoking air !
thanks knoizki
HerbaZ
“I hate smoking – it is a money waster and the smell makes me nauseous..”
Ouchhh! True, a totally waste. It’s now my 2nd Smokes Free day. I’m feeling proud.
I’m not surprise at all Asha, considering Singapore is really a “fine” city – well that is fine here, fine there if you get caught, say smoking in public areas. It will happen here real soon so smokers will all be in chaos (apparently, I am not affected by all this) so imagine HK is clogged with dark clouds everyday, the atmosphere is getting seriously polluted. And sorry that mask won’t help either, so nag them away when people “puff like the magic dragon” infront of your kids.
Ate Beng, uunga ano? Well siguro the difference is that, a liqour is gluggable without harming other people sitting next to you except yourself. And since smoking is going to be implemented here soon, it would result in a big profit loss and a lot of people would go bankrupt. Tsk.
Believe it or not, everyone at work (who smokes) felt bad about the news but smoking is not for everyone, you know so I guess as soon as the ban is lifted, we’ll see if that is being carried out in our workplace, although there are always alternative for other people (and that wouldn’t be me) who would still use lavatories for smoking, I can’t guarantee they would stop.
Hi C, oh no obligation there, put your priorities up first, I can always understand.
The no smoking campaign actually started out a few years ago at Shopping malls, others like some restaurants have already banned smoking but there are difficult costumers who still prefer a restaurant with “smoking table”. In some point it’s also affecting their businesses.
And there are special cigarette bins installed outside the streets so people would smoke near these bins (I often do these) but next year, no more ciggie bins. I noticed that today at work, all the trashbins has been replaced minus the cig-tray on top of the bins.
Hi HerbaZ, I personally like to thank you for the picture I used in this post. I have first recognized the shot because of the $5000 fines printed on it, so I thought, hey, that’s one of HK bins.
Thank you once again.
dont forget to put on a jacket over your silk jammies, it can get mighty chilly out there at the park in the morning, hehe!
that will be great.
I can’t imagine you doing tai chi at 7am with the grannies