Cigarette butts are "strong evidence" of a breach of the smoking ban at work sites: Chris Sun.

Cigarette butts will be considered "strong evidence" of a potential violation under a proposed smoking ban at construction sites, Hong Kong's labour chief has said. He also sought to reassure contractors that preventive measures could protect them from the maximum fine of HK$400,000 (US$51,070). Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-Han revealed further details about the ban in an interview with the South China Morning Post, which took place during an inquiry into the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire. The inquiry heard that a lit cigarette likely sparked the fire after igniting flammable materials in a lightwell. It also emerged at the inquiry that no prosecutions were initiated despite 17 inspections at the estate undergoing renovation, as Labour Department inspectors were unable to catch smokers in the act or trace the origins of the cigarette butts found there. Sun also outlined his remaining priorities for the final year of the current term, including the introduction of a statutory injury compensation mechanism for online platform delivery workers and reforms to a manpower retraining body to address the impact of artificial intelligence (AI). Regarding his proposed ban on smoking at construction sites, he said: "For any contractor, if there are a lot of cigarette butts at the time of inspection, that by itself will be very strong evidence for us to take further action." "We encourage them to install [surveillance cameras] so they can catch whoever is smoking [on] the site, and then [we] can use the images together with other means to see if we can prosecute those who violate the ban. But of course, eventually we have to make sure that there is a clear case being established."