Nickkita Lau, HONG KONG STANDARD NEWSPAPER
Some entertainment venue operators saw business shrink as the clock ticked past midnight yesterday ushering in a blanket smoking ban.
Some entertainment venue operators saw business shrink as the clock ticked past midnight yesterday ushering in a blanket smoking ban.
The two-year grace period for smoking inside bars, nightclubs, clubs, mahjong parlors, massage establishments and bathhouses ended on June 30.
But some customers ignored the ban and were seen smoking inside Wan Chai bars yesterday while others smoked on the sidewalk.
A customer in a Causeway Bay bar said she would continue smoking inside and if the bar staff stopped her she would not go there again.
The Tobacco Control Office received three complaints about smoking inside the six types of premises up until 5pm yesterday, with two in bars and one in a mahjong parlour.
Anyone in breach of the ban is subject to a maximum fine of HK$5,000.
Though empowered to implement the smoking ban, many managers said they would only remove ash trays and would not ask their customers to leave.
The Entertainment Business Rights Concern Group has been appealing to the government to extend the grace period.
Chairman Lillian Chan Yun-lin said there was a significant drop in customers, although no concrete number could be given until they have settled their accounts.
Turnover is expected to be about 20 to 30 percent below the usual. She also attributed the loss to the July 1 demonstration, the last race meeting of the season and people spending the public holiday in Shenzhen.
Hong Kong Mahjong Club spokesman Chris Cheung Ka-ning said there were hardly any customers playing in the afternoon. Some who did come had smoked despite the ban, with staff warning them about breaking the law.
He said some complied and stubbed out their cigarettes, but they could not stop those who insisted on smoking.
But Lan Kwai Fong’s Allan Zeman supports the ban.
“In Hong Kong, we talk about going green and pollution all the time. It’s time to take a stand,” he said.
Zeman does not think he is going to lose any business, saying the smoking ban will create a level playing field which will draw more non-smokers to bars and pubs.
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Clear the Air Says: for the record Sing Tao News and the HK Standard
newspaper are owned by Charles Ho Tsu Kwok who also owns Hong Kong Tobacco Company Ltd