Banning Smoking Is Good For You?

The Hong Kong Government has pushed a tobacco control in recent years, following the introduction of the smoking ban in 2007; the Government increases the budget of tobacco tax, aimed to encourage the public to reduce smoking and to create a healthy city.

On 1st July 2007, the Hong Kong Government had introduce a revised “smoking (Public health) ordinance”, and implemented the smoking ban into the indoor restaurants, indoor workplaces, indoor public places and some outdoor places and also given 2-years grace period to the 6 entertainments business trades including bars, nightclubs, bath and massage houses, along with mahjong and sauna parlors to adapt to the impact of the new law.

Effective from tomorrow, July 1, 2009, the indoor smoking ban will be implemented into those 6 entertainments after the 2-years grace period.

However, it was against by the council and the entertainments industry. Since the impact of financial meltdown and human swine flu, the implementation of indoor smoking ban will be further striking the weak consumption.

The representatives stated that although they had 2 years to prepare, the untimely coincidence of the deadline with the financial meltdown and human swine flu has lower their profits and meant many of them would go out of business.

So, here come to the issue…

1st issue:
Should the Government implement the indoor smoking ban into the entertainments venues?

2nd issue:
Under the situation of financial meltdown and human swine flu, should the Government postpone the implementation of indoor smoking ban, and even adopt a more flexible policy to allow them to set smoking rooms?

What is your opinion on this policy?

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