Press Releases
Transcript of media session by SHWF on smoking bill
Following is the transcript (English portion) of remarks of a media session by
the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, after attending the
meeting of Legislative Council Bills Committee on Smoking (Public Health)
(Amendment) Bill 2005 today (January 24):
Reporter: (On allowing some businesses to continue to allow smoking in three and
a half years)
Dr Chow: The reason why we try to give more time for certain business to adapt
to the change of the anti-smoking law is mainly because a lot of the customers
of this trade are smokers and also their workers are also smokers. And also with
the view of this trade, they feel that if we impose an anti-smoking ordinance
within a very short time, they definitely would face a loss of business and
eventually even closure of some of their establishments. So instead of forcing
them to adjust in a very short time, we hope that with further time, they would
be able to change their operation, or they might decide to close, they might
decide to change into other types of entertainment business, they might also
change into non-smoking establishments. So all these can be options open to
them. So we do not like to compromise on the ultimate aim of total ban of
smoking indoors for the protection of workers.
Reporter: But you allow them to have three and a half years�K
Dr Chow: That is mainly because some of the needs of these establishments are up
to three years, so we give sufficient time for them to change and also some of
the workers also need time to find new work or try to change the operation. So I
think three years or so after the enactment of the law is a reasonable time and
also perhaps the ultimate limit that we can actually accept.
Reporter Do you accept Tommy Cheung's assertion that 100,000 people might be
laid off?
Dr Chow: I think this is only a very rough figure. According to our estimation,
the number should be actually smaller. But we are looking at also a mix of
employees that they might be working both in restaurants and also in bars. And
also some of the restaurants and bars, and some of the bars, might choose to go
for non-smoking early. According to the statistics, there are roughly about
2,000 bars in HK. So some might opt for a restricted access for only over 18
years old type of operation, and some might opt for a more family type of
operation.
Reporter: So what was your estimate?
Dr Chow: We do not know this yet. We are talking with the trade, and we'll try
to see how many of them would be interested to move to one category or the
other.
Reporter: Any estimate on how many people might be laid off?
Dr Chow: I don't think anybody will be laid off at this stage because I think
with the experience of other countries, there are always some adaptations that
could be done. And particularly when we impose a non-smoking to all the food
outlets and restaurants, there would be an even and fair competition. So there
won��t be any particular worry about laying off.
(Please
also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:47
NNNN