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Hong Kong issues fixed penalties under construction smoking ban
Officials say they inspected more than 200 construction sites since the ban took effect, issuing nine HK$3,000 fixed-penalty tickets to workers and 110 warnings overall.
Hong Kong authorities have begun enforcing a citywide construction site smoking ban, issuing nine fixed-penalty tickets and 110 warnings to contractors and workers since it took effect last Friday, according to the labour commissioner cited by SCMP Economy.
Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui Chark-shum said officers inspected more than 200 construction sites and can issue improvement notices, as well as written and verbal warnings, when contractors do not enforce smoke-free requirements effectively.
The ban was introduced after a fatal fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last November that killed 168 people, and was likely sparked by workers smoking during renovations, SCMP Economy reported.
Under the amended law, individuals caught smoking at a construction site face a fixed penalty of HK$3,000 (US$380), while contractors can be fined up to HK$400,000 if they fail to keep sites smoke-free.