Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Protecting Residents from Secondhand Smoke

Questions:

Mr Yip Hon Weng: To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) what is the rationale for treating second-hand smoke, which is a Group 1 carcinogen, as a neighbourly dispute rather than a public health threat; and (b) whether the Ministry will introduce penalties for smokers whose emissions drift into neighbouring units and prohibit smoking on residential balconies to protect residents’ health.

Answer:

My Ministry takes the issue of second-hand tobacco smoke seriously and has progressively prohibited smoking at more than 49,000 public places. This includes most common areas of residential buildings such as void decks, common corridors and stairwells.

Regulating smoking in residential homes, which are private spaces, requires further careful consideration as such measures may be intrusive. We have therefore adopted a community-based approach by working with other government agencies, Town Councils and grassroots leaders to encourage social responsibility and urge smokers to be considerate of their neighbours when smoking in homes. We will continue to monitor international best practices, take in public feedback, and review our policies periodically.