PROHIBITION ON SMOKING IN CERTAIN PLACES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.32 p.m.

The Minister of State for Communications (Dr Ang Kok Peng): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill seeks to prohibit smoking in public buses. I do not need to go into the whys and wherefores for prohibition on smoking in public places. Members are well aware of these. The Prohibition on Smoking in Certain Places Act came into operation on 1st October, 1970, followed by prohibition on smoking in cinemas, theatres and similar public places. More recently, smoking in public lifts was also prohibited in March this year. About 1.75 million bus trips are made by fare-paying passengers, including school children, in one day. It is therefore logical that the prohibition on smoking in public places should be extended to public buses to give these passengers a better atmosphere to travel in and protect them from the harmful effects of smoking by others.

With the enactment of this Bill, the present division in public buses between smoking and non-smoking sections will be done away with. Each public bus will be wholly non-smoking. The prohibition on smoking in buses would apply to buses operating on scheduled routes while carrying fare-paying passengers. Excursion and private buses would not be included in the prohibition.

The Bill empowers the conductor or a ticket inspector to warn passengers against smoking in buses. A passenger who disregards such warning may be asked to leave the bus. The conductor or ticket inspector may also seek the assistance of any police officer, public health auxiliary or other public officer authorised by the Commissioner of Public Health, to deal with a passenger who refuses to heed the warnings or leave the bus.

Under the Bill, smoking in public buses would be an offence subject to arrest without warning. On conviction in Court, an offender would be liable to a fine of up to $500.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Dr Ang Kok Peng].

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 2 -

The Chairman: There is a correction to be made:

In page 2, line 5, to leave out "Act," and insert "Act;".

This will be done.

Clause 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 3 to 5 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.