DH steps up enforcement against illegal smoking in statutory no smoking areas of shopping malls
Tobacco and Alcohol Control officers of the Department of Health (DH) conducted a special operation in shopping malls across the territory for three consecutive days (December 16 to 18), stepping up enforcement against illegal smoking in statutory no smoking areas (NSAs) of shopping malls and prosecution of smoking offenders, as well as enhancing public education through the distribution of leaflets. The officers conducted a total of 155 inspections and issued 36 fixed penalty notices to offenders during the operation.
"To protect public health, it is the Government's tobacco control policy to discourage smoking, contain the proliferation of tobacco use and minimise the impact of second-hand smoke on the public. Stepped-up enforcement actions against smoking offences in shopping malls aim at further protecting the public from the harm of second-hand smoke," a spokesman for the DH said.
Any person who commits an act of smoking in NSAs or in public transport carriers will be liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors will prosecute smoking offenders without prior warning.
"We appeal to smokers to quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. They are encouraged to call the DH's Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183. The hotline is operated by registered nurses, providing professional counselling services on smoking cessation," the spokesman said.
DH steps up enforcement against illegal smoking in statutory no smoking areas of shopping malls Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH steps up enforcement against illegal smoking in statutory no smoking areas of shopping malls Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Incorporation of AlipayHK into Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme to take effect January 1, 2025
The Transport Department announced today (December 19) that, in addition to Octopus, AlipayHK will be incorporated into the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme with effect from January 1, 2025, allowing citizens an extra electronic payment option under the Scheme. When members of the public travelling on major public transport services pay for single journey fares with AlipayHK EasyGo or take MTR services by using the QR Code on the "MTR Mobile" application with AlipayHK as the payment source, the relevant fares will be eligible for the calculation of public transport fare subsidies.
Public transport coverage of AlipayHK under the Scheme
Under the Scheme, when one uses AlipayHK to pay single journey fares for the following public transport services (please see Annex for more details), the relevant fares will be eligible for the calculation of public transport fare subsidies:
MTR railway services (except Airport Express, Light Rail and MTR Buses);
franchised buses, including Citybus, KMB, Long Win Bus and New Lantao Bus;
tram;
11 designated ferry routes; and
175 designated green minibus routes.
AlipayHK EasyGo supports the payment of single journey fares for the above public transport services. However, it cannot be used for purchasing designated transport tickets such as monthly passes or day passes at the moment.
Subsidy calculation and collection for AlipayHK users
Single journey fares for public transport services paid with AlipayHK will be automatically recorded in the relevant AlipayHK account. The Government will provide a subsidy amounting to one-third of the actual monthly public transport expenses in excess of $400, subject to a maximum of $400 per month for each AlipayHK account. This subsidy calculation method is the same as that for Octopus users. From the 16th of each month, AlipayHK users can collect the subsidy of the previous month via the AlipayHK mobile application. The period for collecting the subsidy is three months.
Separate calculation of public transport fares paid with AlipayHK and Octopus
Upon the incorporation of AlipayHK into the Scheme, there will be no change to the existing arrangements for recording, calculating and collecting subsidies via Octopus. Public transport expenses recorded separately under the AlipayHK account and Octopus cannot be combined for the calculation of public transport fare subsidies.
Members of the public can visit the website (ptfss.gov.hk) for details of the Scheme. For enquiries, AlipayHK users can visit the AlipayHK mobile application or call the hotline at 3002 0905, while Octopus users can visit the Octopus mobile application, the website (subsidy-enquiry.ptfss.hk) or call the hotline at 2969 5500.
