Smoking has been barred in outdoor areas within 10 metres of the entrances to eight more schools and four more crèches since yesterday, bringing the total number of such schools to 11 and such crèches to five in the city.
The new measure, which started yesterday, was announced by the Health Bureau (SSM) in a statement on Sunday.
The statement noted that with the aim of better protecting children from exposure to second-hand smoke, the Health Bureau rolled out a smoking ban in outdoor areas within 10 metres of the entrances to three schools and a crèche on November 24 last year, where those violating the smoking ban are fined 1,500 patacas. The statement said that the smoking ban has been well received by teachers, students and their parents.
The statement said that after comprehensive assessments in collaboration with the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), the Health Bureau (SSM) chose eight more schools and four more crèches to be newly covered by a smoking ban within 10 metres of their respective entrances.
Consequently, the statement pointed out, smoking has now been banned in outdoor areas within 10 metres of the entrances to 11 schools and five crèches, where those violating the smoking ban will be fined 1,500 patacas.
In Macau, smoking is banned in all indoor public venues and facilities, except smoking lounges in casinos and at the airport. In addition, smoking is also prohibited in certain outdoor public areas such as public parks and gardens, public beaches, footbridges, pedestrian underpasses, and within 10 metres of all public bus stops.
Illegal smoking carries a fixed fine of 1,500 patacas.
According to Macau’s anti-smoking law, specifically the Tobacco Prevention and Control Law, the Health Bureau can, on a case-by-case basis, designate additional outdoor public areas as statutory no-smoking zones beyond those listed in the law after obtaining the green light from the respective public entities governing the areas concerned.
Consequently, the outdoor areas within 10 metres of the entrances to the 11 schools and the five crèches are now also statutory no-smoking zones so that those smoking there face a fine of 1,500 patacas.
Pedestrians walk past the entrance to the Santa Rosa de Lima crèche located near S. Francisco Garden yesterday, one of the four crèches newly added to the smoking ban implemented in outdoor areas within 10 metres of their respective entrances. – Photo: Tony Wong
