A major property developer has issued a stringent anti-smoking order across its construction sites in the wake of last week’s five-alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court, drawing widespread praise online for what netizens view as a necessary and overdue safety measure.
A photo posted by a netizen on Tuesday (Dec 2) showed a newly issued smoking-ban notice displayed at one of the developer’s sites. Unlike previous warnings, the notice adopts a bold and highly visual approach.
“This is truly a great example,” the post read.
The newly issued smoking-ban notice. (Source: wakarimasu__Threads)
The notice includes a photo of a worker smoking on scaffolding, with the caption: “Sir, are you smoking again?” It also references reports about the Tai Po blaze, stating that the Wang Fuk Court fire “is suspected to have been caused by workers smoking on scaffolding, with evidence photos circulating online, demanding accountability.”
Beneath the image is a sharply worded warning: “Starting this week (Dec 1), any worker found with cigarettes will be fined HK$5,000, immediately expelled from the site, and permanently banned from employment.”
The notice adds that any violations will be reported to the developer and the individual will be barred from all of its project sites.
Netizens largely welcomed the move, calling it a strong deterrent that could reduce fire risks on construction sites. “I hope this will be permanently enforced and adopted at all construction sites,” one wrote.
Another commenter suggested an industry-wide blacklist: “Simply compile a list of workers, so if someone is fired from one site for smoking, they won’t be hired by others. That would discourage smoking on sites.”
Some users, however, questioned how the policy would be implemented. “How will they penalize workers who are paid daily?” one asked. Another wondered, “Will foreign workers be afraid?”
Other construction sites have previously introduced similar bans, including fines of HK$3,000 and immediate expulsion. Industry insiders say that strict enforcement—combined with pressure on employers of offending workers—may be the most effective way to reduce such risks.
