The government of Hong Kong introduced legislative amendments on Tuesday to prohibit smoking on all construction sites, following a catastrophic fire at a housing complex that claimed 168 lives last year.
Deadly Fire at Wang Fuk Court
The city's deadliest blaze in decades swept through seven of the eight apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court complex in northern Hong Kong in November. The estate was undergoing repair work at the time. A panel investigating the inferno heard in March that a likely cause was construction workers smoking on scaffolding. Investigators also received evidence that residents had repeatedly complained about workers smoking, but their concerns were not addressed.
New Legal Obligations
The amendments would "impose clear legal obligations on principal contractors of construction works, subcontractors and any persons to strictly prohibit smoking in all construction sites," the government said in a statement on Tuesday. This was "with a view to reducing fire risks and safeguarding the safety of workers and the public."
Enforcement and Penalties
The amendments would designate construction sites as no-smoking areas and require occupational safety officers under the labour department to enforce the ban. These officers would have the authority to issue a fixed fine of HK$3,000 (US$380) to any individual found smoking on a construction site. Contractors and subcontractors who fail to take "all reasonable steps" to prevent smoking would be liable, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of HK$400,000 (US$51,000).
Legislative Approval
The government expressed its hope for the legislative council's "support for early passage" of the amendments in its statement.
