Our Community
Smoking ban defied at universities
by Iris Chu
University students and professors have ignored the smoking ban that has been extended to all campuses in Hong Kong, with smokers finding the new rule ineffective and enforcement lax.
Yet, universities say they do not face any difficulties in carrying out the ban despite the fact that they have no power to issue penalties to any person who defies the rule.
The amended anti-smoking legislation,
which came into effect from January 1,
covers most of the indoor areas of
workplaces and public places, such as
restaurants, offices, universities, schools,
hospitals, markets, karaoke boxes and
bars. Anyone who violates the law could
face a maximum fine of HK$5,000.
While anti-smoking signs have been posted at various locations at university campuses where smoking is banned both indoors and outdoors, some of the students and teaching staff continue to smoke in the college grounds.
Leung Wing-shan, a year two nonsmoker
of the Hong Kong University of
Science and Technology, complained that
people still smoked in the campus.
"It's a pity that students still smoke
freely in the campus after the
implementation of the law," Miss Leung
said, adding that she could not stand the
smell of the cigarettes that always left her
"feeling sick".
Choi Wing-kin, a student of the City University of Hong Kong, said he also saw students kept smoking in his campus. "I find it very disturbing, as I hate smoking very much," Mr Choi said.
But the student said he chose not to report the problem to avoid troubles. "I do not want to get into trouble and I do not even know where I should report to. So I usually walk away and ignore them," Mr Choi said.
A year two student of the University
of Hong Kong, Leung Chan-bing,
admitted that he still smoked in the
campus despite the ban. Mr Leung, who
has been smoking for five years and
considers himself a "very addictive"
smoker, consumes about two to three
packs of cigarettes each week.
"I spend most of my time in campus,
and I will go out and smoke during breaks
in lessons," he said.
But he has never been complained by
other students or the university
management. "I have never been caught. It seems that the university doesn't do
anything to stop us from smoking," he
said.
The smoker also finds the no smoking
signs irritating and ineffective. "I hate
them so much that I would sometimes
like to burn the no smoking signs in the
rubbish bin with cigarettes," he said.
OTHER STORIES IN OUR COMMUNITY
Money-driven learning
Some smokers choose to smoke at night with friends.