Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Residents’ Exposure to Secondhand Cigarette Smoke

Question:

Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui: To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) whether the Ministry has assessed residents’ exposure, particularly those living in or near ground-floor units, to secondhand cigarette smoke from common areas; and (b) whether the Government will consider introducing additional buffer zones or regulatory measures to better protect residents from involuntary exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke in residential settings.

Answer:

Smoking is prohibited in most common areas such as at Housing and Development Board void decks, playgrounds, exercise areas, pavilions and covered walkways to limit residents’ exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS). My Ministry has not conducted studies on exposure to SHS from such common areas as smoking at these places is not allowed. We will continue to review our policies on smoking prohibition regularly and will take feedback from the public into consideration.