46 MB Report
was taken by Hong Kong’s Legislative
Council. At the bottom end, the goal is
to enlarge the scope of the law in order
to prohibit smoking in all indoor areas.
The director of the Health Bureau,
Lei Chin Ion, has meanwhile pointed out
that the casino, massage lounge, sauna
and nightclub exemptions were the only
way they could reach a consensus with
operators and businesses.
At least four casino operators ex-
pressed worries to the government that a
smoking ban could affect their business,
leading to staff lay-offs.
The consultation with the casino
sector occurred in 2008, during the in-
ternational financial crisis.
Demands for higher taxes
Lawmakers also demanded a rise in the
tax on tobacco, in a bid to deter smok-
ing, especially among young people and
grass roots groups. Some legislators, like
Pereira Coutinho or Ng Kuok Cheong,
demanded that the Macau tax be similar
those imposed in Hong Kong where the solve this situation. The government is to Hong Kong’s – HK$23 per pack.
single fixed fine is HK$1,500. not being strong, it is yielding to the op- Cheong U agreed and promised to
If the designated smoking areas are erators’ demands,” she says. do so – but he didn’t say when.
not set up according to the law, fines Some also wonder why the bill bans After all, recalled the Secretary for
from MOP10,000 to MOP100,000 are smoking inside karaoke bars but not in- Social and Culture Affairs, the govern-
applicable. side nightclubs. ment recently raised the tax on tobacco.
The government will create a sys- As for restaurants, they are will- In May 2009, the tax was raised
tem to encourage the offenders to pay ing to accept the new bill, assured Chan from MOP1 to MOP4 per packet.
fines as soon as possible. If the fine is Chak Mo, who is also chairman of the In Hong Kong, the number of peo-
paid within 15 days, the offender will get United Association of Food and Bever- ple arrested in connection with illegal
a 50 percent discount (not all penalties age Merchants of Macau. cigarette activities has nearly doubled
will be included). However, he asked for equality of since the tobacco tax was increased by
A similar system is already in place treatment for the entire food and bever- 50 percent in February 2009.
for traffic fines. age sector. It is still not clear whether The Customs and Excise Depart-
The bill defines rules for the pack- smoking will allowed in restaurants in- ment recorded a 91 percent rise year-on-
aging and labelling of tobacco products. side casinos. year in the number of arrests between
Tobacco sales, advertising and sponsor- March and November 2009 - to 1,794.
ship are also covered. Second-hand smoke Cases of cigarette smuggling, distri-
A tobacco control office employing Another issue regarding the new bill bution, storage and selling rose by 87 per
about 70 people will also be set up to en- concerns the workers in the venues cent to 2,301 but seizures of illicit ciga-
force the new laws. It will work together where smoking will still be allowed. rettes dropped by 25 per cent to 47 million.
with the police, the health bureau, the Lawmakers are concerned what will However, the tax increase was ef-
civic and municipal affairs bureau and happen if an employee refuses to go to fective in reducing the number of taxed
the gaming inspection and coordination work because of second-hand smoke. cigarettes sold in the former British
bureau. “Can an employer force a person colony. Between March and November
to work in a smoking area? Is there any 2009, the figure dropped by 26 percent,
Discrimination? kind of compensation?” asked Chan. to 14.84 million, from 20.11 million in
For some lawmakers, it is hard to un- Secretary for Social and Culture the same period last year.
derstand why casinos, massage lounges, Affairs, Cheong U says: “It is difficult Finally, there has been some disagree-
saunas and nightclubs are the only com- to guarantee the full protection of all ment between Macau lawmakers regard-
mercial venues allowed to have desig- the workers. For now, we are only trying ing the ban on smoking on some outdoor
nated smoking areas. to introduce a law to set up the matters places, such as beaches and public parks.
Kwan Tsui Hang says casinos are which are easiest for the Legislative As- According to the proposed law,
being given preferential treatment. sembly to approve.” smokers can only do so in special des-
“Gaming is important to the local Cheong U says the Macau govern- ignated areas, a requirement that is re-
economy, but for sure there is a way to ment is following the same strategy that garded as nonsense by some.
March 2010
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