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Activists pushing for smoking ban in indoor facilities 

Anti-smoking groups were taking advantage of a major opportunity on Wednesday to get amendments added to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, which would place a comprehensive ban on smoking in all enclosed public places. The window of opportunity will close next Friday, the end of the current legislative session.

As long as the legislative caucus of the Kuomintang agrees to send the bill to a second and third hearing, it is highly likely that the amendments will be passed on Friday or next week, emphasized the John Tung Foundation, Taiwan's leading anti-smoking lobbying group. . . .

The amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act should have been passed last Friday, but the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union called for cross-party negotiations over the amendments.

Some amendments to the Tobacco and Liquor Tax Law, which raise the tobacco surcharge on 1,000 cigarettes and one kilogram of cigars, cut-tobaccos or other tobacco products by NT$250 to NT$500 were already passed on Tuesday.

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