Hong Kong will prohibit smoking at all construction sites starting July 17. The measure follows a deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court in November.
The Legislative Council received clarifications on Thursday about the upcoming rules. Contractors must take all reasonable steps to enforce the ban, including installing CCTV cameras and setting up management procedures. The changes stem from amendments to improve fire safety after the Wang Fuk Court inferno, which killed 168 people and displaced about 5,000 residents. The amendments will take effect on July 17 following LegCo approval. The Labour Department outlined that reasonable steps include comprehensive on-site smoking ban procedures, smart management systems, and CCTV installation.