Casino smoking ban to stay unchanged, says govt

There is no urgent need to completely ban smoking in casinos, the Legislative Assembly heard yesterday. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U said the government would improve the present arrangements but was “in no rush to amend the legislation”. Smoking is banned in up to half of the space in casinos and other gaming establishments. “Casinos can ask for a smoking area of only 20 percent, or none at all,” Mr Cheong said. Last month, the Health Bureau has accepted the suggestion by the six casino operators that smoking zones in mass gaming halls be scrapped and replaced with smoking rooms without slot machines or gaming tables.