The Government is determined to ban smoking in all public indoor areas to further protect the people from hazardous second-hand smoke, said the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng.

He said the Government did not want an increase in gaming revenue at the expense of the health of the people, casino employees and tourists.

Speaking to reporters on 29 January, Mr Tam said the Government would submit the revisions on the New Regime on Tobacco Prevention and Control to the Legislative Assemble within the first half of this year, suggesting imposing a full smoking ban in all public indoor areas, including casinos.

Currently, smoking is banned in major public areas in casinos, including the mass gaming floor.

Having met with the representatives of the city’s six gaming operators and associations, Mr Tam said they preferred to setup airport-style smoking lounges, but poll and study showed that the majority were in favour of a full ban and that the smoking lounges could not ensure satisfied air quality in casinos.

Mr Tam said the Government would consider increasing the tobacco tax to 70 per cent of the retail price as suggested by the World Health Organization recommendation.

The New Regime first became effective on 1 January 2012, banning smoking in public indoor areas such as schools, health institutes, workplaces and factories. Beginning this year, smoking is also banned in all bars, dancehalls, saunas and massage parlours.

On the same day, the Government also launched a mobile application on the waiting time for medical services in the hospitals and the subsided clinics, giving the people better real-time information on the services in different institutions.