According to the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong citizens have been urged to give smokers the cold shoulder when they light up in off-limits public areas.
At a meeting of a health service panel, Secretary of Health Lo Chung-mau remarked, “Even if no law enforcement authorities can come up right once, we may look at the smokers when members of the public witness persons smoking in non-smoking locations.
“Everyone in the building can see at someone who lights up a cigarette at a restaurant. Everyone in the restaurant is just looking, so I don’t think that individual would dare to hit back.
Following the suggestion of harsher anti-smoking regulations, including a potential increase in Hong Kong’s tobacco tax and a prohibition on the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after a particular date, this order was issued.
Additionally, Chung-mau issued a warning that officials would examine surveillance footage or video clips of violators of the law that were submitted by locals, which might be used as proof to strictly enforce the ban on smoking in designated areas.
