Tobacco.org

Activists advocate tougher laws to close loopholes on lighting up ($$) 

Even with the smoking ban going into full effect this week, anti-smoking advocates say there is still a lot more work to be done in the city.

First, the smoking ban was not completely effective, said James Middleton, chairman of the anti-tobacco committee Clear the Air. "I think overall most Hong Kong people are law-abiding and will comply."

Still, the government needs more tobacco control inspectors, a law to ban smoking at venue entrances and outside seating areas and fines for landlords.

"At the moment, there's no onus on the landlord," he said. "They don't put the legal onus on the landlord."

The burden was on the person smoking - and it would be the locals who would face the brunt of the penalties, as tourists can fly out before paying their fines, he said.

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