Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U said the drafting of criteria for smoking areas in casinos was “at the final stage”. Mr Cheong told reporters the government would announce the guidelines soon. The Health Bureau, under Mr Cheong, is drafting the technical regulations. He said the ban on smoking in casinos would still be enacted on January 1 next year, in less than three months. Despite the short notice, Mr Cheong said he expected all smoking areas inside casinos to be ready before that. A ban on smoking in most public places came into effect on January 1 this year but casinos were given one year exemption to set up smoking areas covering up to 50 percent of their gaming floors.
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