Oral Reply to Parliamentary Question on Smoking

Question:

Ms Elysa Chen: To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment how do the principles that determine the legality of smoking in void decks within HDB estates affect policies on smoking in HDB pavilions that are not designated for holding functions.

Answer:

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has progressively extended smoking prohibitions to more public places where members of the public are likely to be exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke. Common property of residential buildings such as void decks, as well as covered areas intended to be used principally for holding funerals, weddings, gatherings, meetings or other communal or social functions, have been covered under the smoking prohibition regulations since 2013. These are shared spaces where large numbers of people may congregate.

For pavilions that are currently not intended for holding functions, NEA will continue to monitor public feedback and my Ministry will review the smoking prohibition regulations accordingly.