Proposal to Impose a Ban on Smoking While Walking

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment whether the Ministry will consider imposing a ban on smoking while walking.

Smoking is prohibited in many public places to protect the public from harmful second-hand tobacco smoke. Covering more than 32,000 places, these include public places with high footfall such as pedestrian overhead bridges, covered or underground pedestrian walkways, and the common areas of residential buildings. For clarity of the rules to both the smokers and the non-smokers, so that there is a clear understanding of where smoking is disallowed, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has prohibited smoking by types of places, regardless of the activity that the smoker is engaged in. NEA has expanded the list of smoking-prohibited places over the years. It will continue to monitor and enforce against smoking violations at smoking-prohibited places. It does not intend to include walking as an activity where smoking is prohibited.