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Hong Kong says construction smoking ban will take time to change culture

Authorities completed 1,200 construction-site inspections in the first two weeks and issued 36 fixed-penalty notices, while issuing nine improvement notices to contractors and weighing possible prosecutions in two cases.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Emerging Markets

Hong Kong’s labour commissioner said it will take time to change smoking behavior on construction sites, citing ongoing noncompliance as inspections continue, according to SCMP Economy.

Sam Hui Chark-shum said the Labour Department completed 1,200 site checks in the first two weeks after the smoking ban started, issuing 36 fixed-penalty notices and nine improvement notices to contractors.

Hui said officials would consider whether to prosecute two cases, adding that workers are still smoking and the situation is not ideal.

The ban was introduced after the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po last November that killed 168 people and was suspected to have been caused by workers smoking during renovation work. Under the legal amendments, individuals face a HK$3,000 fixed penalty, while contractors can be fined up to HK$400,000 for failing to keep sites smoke-free.

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