ANKARA

"Staring at smokers" in public places can help discourage them from smoking, Hong Kong's top health official has suggested.

"When someone takes out a cigarette at a restaurant, everyone on the premises can stare at that person," Lo Chung-mau, the region's health secretary, told lawmakers last week.

"I do not believe that person would dare to hit back at everyone at the restaurant as they are simply staring."

Lo was speaking at a meeting of the Legislative Council on Friday, according to daily South China Morning Post, underlining the potential harms cigarettes can cause in smokers and bystanders alike.

Smoking in restaurants, workplaces, indoor public places, and some outdoor public areas is not allowed in Hong Kong and carry a fine of up to 1,500 Hong Kong dollars ($192) for breaches.

"When the members of the public see people smoking in non-smoking areas, even if no law enforcement officers can show up immediately, we can stare at the smokers," Lo said.

Hong Kong has launched a public consultation paper to make the city smoke-free.

Several suggestions are on the table, including a potential ban on people born after a certain date buying cigarettes, and a tax hike on tobacco taxes.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid