Hong Kong authorities issued 21 fixed-penalty notices during the first six days of a citywide ban on smoking at construction sites that took effect on July 17.
Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui Chark-shum said on Saturday that authorities inspected about 530 construction sites during the first six days of the ban. Apart from the 21 fixed-penalty notices, five improvement notices were issued and one case is under evidence evaluation for potential prosecution.
Authorities also issued about 300 written and verbal warnings, mostly concerning basic no-smoking management such as clear site boundaries and posted notices.
“We issued a total of 21 fixed-penalty notices. Out of more than 500 construction sites, 21 works out at about three or four notices per 100 sites,” Hui said on a television programme. “This situation is not entirely ideal, but it is not severe either.”
The new ban was introduced after the devastating fire at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate, which killed 168 people last November and was suspected to have been caused by workers smoking while carrying out renovations.