Hong Kong developers push for blanket smoking ban at construction sites after deadly fire

Major Hong Kong developers are considering a blanket ban on smoking for workers at all construction sites following the deadly Tai Po blaze that killed 159, with at least two already demanding that all their contractors impose the tough rule or step up penalties.\nThe Real Estate Developers Association (REDA) told the Post on Friday that it was gathering views on the smoking ban from its members, including major developers such as Sino Land, Swire Properties, Sun Hung Kai and New World Development.\nOne of its members, Henderson Land Development, has already required all contractors on its construction sites to ban smoking, according to a source.\nAny workers who smoke on site would be required to leave, the insider said, adding that enforcement of the ban would be left to contractors to decide, including whether workers would be fined or fired.\nIn a video posted on Thursday that went viral online, construction workers at a site in Sham Shui Po were told they would be blacklisted from future projects if they were caught smoking.\n“If I catch anyone smoking here, they will have to leave,” a man conducting a briefing said.\n“You will be barred from working on all of our construction sites in the future because I will submit your name to the head office.\n“Even if I don’t catch you smoking, if I see cigarette butts in the area, the contractor will be fined HK$6,000 (US$770) because they are responsible for supervision.”\nThe dozens of workers at the site listened intently to the stern briefing, with some nodding in response.\n\nThe source verified that the video was filmed at the site of its residential project, Belgravia Place, on Berwick Street in Sham Shui Po.\nAccording to a notice posted on the site, workers found smoking on the site would be fined HK$5,000 and would never be employed again.\nCK Asset Holdings, a member of REDA, said workers at all its construction sites had been prohibited from smoking, but designated smoking areas would be provided. Any workers who violated the smoking rules would be dismissed.\nBut the spokesman said that the company has recently increased punishment; workers failing to follow the rules would be reported to the Construction Industry Council, and they will not be employed in the industry permanently.\nAccording to the Construction Industry Council, Smoking is prohibited on construction sites or is only allowed in the designated smoking areas.\nThe Commissioner of Labour also has the power to prohibit smoking at construction sites which use flammable substances involving danger from fire, according to the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations.\nBut residents of Wang Fuk Court alleged that construction workers had been smoking throughout the duration of the estate’s renovation works, causing the fire which ravaged through seven out of eight buildings.\nConstruction sites around Hong Kong have started putting up notices to enforce the no-smoking rule, following the fire at Wang Fuk Court on November 26.\nA Gen Z worker in the construction and renovation industry, who goes by the username ykhho0102 on the social media platform Threads, said the scale of the tragedy “revolutionised construction sites”.\nHe said the workers had their bags checked for cigarettes and lighters upon entering the site on December 2, and shared a photo of a sign at his construction site, which said that all smoking is banned on the site and offenders would be required to leave.\nHe said that in the industry, it was “extremely rare” to find workers who have never smoked, and only a few who previously smoked but quit.\n