The Executive Council proposed four amendments to the existing New Regime of Tobacco Prevention and Control, including a full smoking ban in casinos. The changes also include raising penalty to between 1,500 patacas and 200,000 patacas, compare to the current amount ranging from 400 patacas to 100,000 patacas. Speaking at a press conference on 30 June, Spokesperson of the Council, Mr Leong Heng Teng, said the work on preventing smoking was always a priority to the Government as to further protect the public health and to fulfil legislations of the World Health Organization. In addition, there will be a legislation regulating the use and the sale of electronic cigarette. The bill suggests a set of tightened rules on advertising cigarette, and expands no smoking areas in higher education institutions and stations of mass transportation. In response to reporter’s question, Director of the Health Bureau Mr Lei Chin Ion, who also presented at the press conference, re-iterated that it was just an assumption to link the smoking ban to the drop of gaming revenue, adding that the health of the people has top priority than any other issues. The New Regime of Tobacco Prevention and Control came into effect since 1 January 2012, banning smoking in public indoor areas such as schools, health institutes, workplaces and factories. Beginning in this year, smoking is also banned in all bars, dancehalls, saunas and massage parlours.
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