In addition to such toxicities as freedom of speech and association, smoking is also a bad thing in the eyes of Hong Kong officials.
Well, it is. Smoking is a bad thing. It’s unhealthy. But also bad—if not quite as bad as stamping out freedom of speech, freedom of association, justice in the courts, etc.—is the desire of Hong Kong’s officials to encourage shaming of people who smoke in public.
As reported by Australia’s ABC News in July 2023, being stared at by duly deputized citizens is one of the lesser penalties that health officials seek to impose on smokers. New anti-smoking measures may also include “banning people born after a certain date from buying cigarettes and a possible cigarette tax increase to 75 per cent of the package price.”
Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau told a meeting of the Legislative Council’s health service panel on Friday police could not always be expected to catch smokers.
“When the members of the public see people smoking in non-smoking areas, even if no law enforcement officers can show up immediately, we can stare at the smokers,” he said.
“I do not believe that person would dare to hit back at everyone at the restaurant as they are simply staring.”
It’s enough to make you take up smoking.
Under current law, Hong Kongers who smoke here, there, or anywhere public or semi-public can be fined up to $280 USD. ABC says that “smokers often finish their cigarettes before police turn up,” which is an excellent tactic. But Lo warns that authorities will also be relying on surveillance footage and public-provided videos to crack down on smokers. Smokers will therefore have to refine their tactics.
