Effectiveness of "No Smoking Zone" in Orchard Road

Ms Lee Hui Ying asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) when has the most recent survey on the effectiveness of the Orchard Road No Smoking Zone been conducted since the initial survey in July 2019; (b) what have been the findings from this recent survey; and (c) whether there has been a further reduction in feedback about smoking since 2021, and if so, what is the percentage reduction.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has not conducted any further surveys on the Orchard Road No Smoking Zone (ORNSZ) since the perception survey in July 2019 after the ORNSZ was newly designated. Discounting 2021, when safe distancing measures were in place, NEA observed that feedback on smoking cases in the ORNSZ remained stable between 2022 and 2024, averaging fewer than 30 cases per month.

When compared to the overall volume of feedback NEA receives on smoking in prohibited places, feedback on cases in the ORNSZ is relatively low, making up less than 2%. NEA will continue to monitor and assess the effectiveness of ORNSZ.