HONG KONG: Almost six months after smokers in pubs and clubs were ordered to butt out, things seem to be looking pretty good. Granted business is down but much of that probably has to do with overall economic conditions. It's true that smokers don't frequent the bars as much as they once did. But more non-smokers are turning up, including families bringing kids.

The doom and gloom predicted by the pub owners when the enforcement went into effect simply has failed to materialize.

"More customers come with their families and even daughters and sons," said Miss Cheung who works in Schnurrbart in Tsim Sha Tsui. Cheung agrees business is not as good as it was before the economic turmoil.

"The business has deteriorated obviously but I'm not sure if it is related to the smoking ban or whether the economy is not as good as before."

During the evening rush, around 9 o'clock, Cheung was serving customers and could barely spare a moment to talk. Some customers try to ignore the ban. Staff try to dissuade customers from breaking the law. "We'll ask them to smoke outside the bar. There are some who refuse to cooperate. Most of them are tourists. Local people generally understand the situation," she said.

At Prince Edward, it seemed not much has changed since the enforcement of the smoking ban commenced. The place was about 70 percent full, and was reeking of tobacco smoke as patrons sat drinking and playing Liar's Dice.

"After the legislation, the business of the pubs in this entire street went down," said Miss Fong as she took a puff outside the pub where she works. "Patrons who smoke are generally cooperative and they will smoke outside. Some smokers lose their tempers when we ask them to smoke outside - especially the ones who are drunk. " Mr Mak, who works for a large corporation, had stepped outside for a smoke with his friends where their conversation continued.

"I go to pubs as regularly as before, about once per week," said Mr Mak. "Most pubs allow the patrons to smoke inside. They just ignore the smoke ban. Even when the inspectors are examining the pubs and have seen people smoking inside, they don't penalize them. They just give them a verbal warning if the smokers are not going too far."

Some people would prefer getting a fine to smoking outside.

"A Chinese lady smoked at her table and was asked to step outside," said Wency G. E. of McSorley's Ale House in Soho. "The lady yelled 'I have money and can pay HK$1,500 but I have to smoke at my table'. She was very angry and never came back again."

Without smoke billowing here and there, the ambience in the Soho bar is fresher with touches of laughter, though Wency showed a little concern about business.

"The smoking ban is good for people who don't smoke but the business is affected a little bit. Many regular customers are no longer here," said Wency. "We're a pub where people stood and smoked. We sold cigarettes before and when the law came we stopped."

"After the smoke ban, I'm now drinking at pubs and bars which I would not do in the past," said Tom Yip who works in Central and goes to pubs in Lan Kwai Fong about four times per week after work.

Although Yip is a person who is fond of drinking but hates smoking, he thinks a separate smoking area should be established to satisfy both parties.

"Smoking is not taking drugs," said Yip. "If cigarettes can be sold in Hong Kong, people should be given places to smoke too."

(HK Edition 01/05/2010 page1)