The comprehensive ban on smoking at construction sites took effect on 17 July. By the end of October, the Labour Department had inspected 7,300 sites, according to figures given by Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han.
The department issued 84 fixed-penalty notices to people smoking in breach of the ban. Each carried a HK$3,000 penalty. Sun said most inspections were surprise visits, while some followed public complaints.
Separately, the department issued five summonses to contractors in four cases. It said it considered the contractors had not taken reasonable steps to implement the ban at their sites. Sun said the cases involving employers would go through court procedures; after the prosecution process was complete, the government would provide a further update.