The Hong Kong SAR government introduced three legislative amendments to prohibit smoking at all construction sites following the fatal Wang Fuk Court fire in November 2025 that killed 168 people. The proposed changes would designate construction sites as no-smoking areas under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance, empower Labor Department safety officers to issue HK$3,000 ($390) fixed penalties to offenders, and require contractors and subcontractors to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent smoking or the use of naked flames on site. Violations by contractors could carry fines of up to HK$400,000 ($52,000).
The measures, now before the Legislative Council for vetting, aim to reduce fire risks and improve worker and public safety, and would apply to all construction and maintenance sites except private residential quarters.