Bureau of Health Promotion (BHP) Director-General Hsiao Mei-ling said Monday that smoking is prohibited within 10 meters of hospitals and stations. However, it is up to the management of such facilities to determine the 10 meter boundary, she noted.

Hsiao also pointed out that while temples are not included in the smoking law, temple staff have the right to decide whether or not to prohibit smoking on their premises.

According to the revisions to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, smoking in indoor workplaces manned by three or more people and most other public indoor spaces, including "commercial markets, " restaurants, Internet cafes, KTVs and roofed stations, could result in a fine of up to NT$50,000 (US$1,151) for the businesses and NT$10,000 for the individuals involved.

Defining "commercial markets, " Hsiao said the category refers to department stores, big shopping centers and supermarkets.

Small stores owned by one or two people, family-run grocery stores and barber shops are not in the category. However, Hsiao stated that if there are over three persons working at the store at the same time, it would be an obligatory non-smoking place.

In terms of bus stations, the official defined them as open spaces, saying that smoking at such stations is not against the law, as well as breakfast stores or bistros with semi-open dining spaces.

According to BHP statistics, 60 places around Taipei were found failing to follow the revised anti-tobacco hazard law on the first day of its taking effect, 36 of which were busted because they either failed to display non-smoking stickers or provided devices related to smoking such as ashtrays.

Hsiao admitted that it will take some time for people to fall into step on the new law.

(By Elizabeth Hsu)