Some workers seek to quit smoking as ban on Hong Kong construction sites kicks in

Some Hong Kong workers have said they intend to quit smoking as a new ban on smoking at construction sites came into force on Friday.

The ban came in the wake of the deadly fire at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court housing estate, a disaster that killed 168 people last November and was suspected to have been caused by workers smoking while carrying out renovations.

Under the legal amendments, an individual caught smoking at a construction site faces a fixed penalty of HK$3,000 (US$380) for individual breaches, while contractors face a fine of up to HK$400,000 if they fail to ensure their sites are smoke-free.

The Labour Department conducted spot checks on 58 construction sites on Friday and issued one fixed penalty ticket.

At a dedicated rehousing estate project in Ma Tau Kok, contractor Hip Hing Construction put up posters at the site’s entrance and signs at the helmet-collection point. Designated lockers were provided for workers to deposit their cigarettes and lighters, while security staff also checked bags at the gate for any smoking materials.

To encourage workers to quit smoking, Hip Hing also held smoking cessation talks and offered a HK$50 supermarket voucher to those who remained smoke-free for seven days.