Labour and Welfare Bureau outlines construction site smoking ban proposal

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The Labour and Welfare Bureau provided more details on the proposed smoking ban at construction sites. 

Under the amendment, smoking in areas posing a serious fire hazard could lead to imprisonment for employees or employers. The bill is expected to be submitted to the Legislative Council for deliberation by mid-year.

According to documents submitted to the Legislative Council's Manpower Panel, it's said that there has been strong public consensus for a full smoking ban at construction sites following the Wang Fuk Court fire. The Labour Department plans to designate such sites as statutory no-smoking areas, with a fixed fine of 3,000 dollars for violations.

The amendment will also require contractors to take reasonable steps to ensure no one smokes or carries lit tobacco products on-site. Upon conviction, the maximum fine will be 400,000 dollars. In serious cases, such as smoking near highly flammable materials, the department may prosecute employers with a maximum penalty of 3 million dollars and six months' imprisonment, or prosecute employees involved, who could face a fine of up to 150,000 dollars and six months' imprisonment.