Inmates at Macau’s prison will only be allowed to smoke for three hours a week if amendments to the city’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Law pass a second reading at the Legislative Assembly (AL), Radio Macau reported.
The draft bill is still being debated among Second Standing Committee lawmakers. Attending a committee meeting yesterday, the director of Macau’s prison, Lee Kam Cheong, said that there were no issues with the current revision of the law. However, some legislators voiced concern over the rights of the inmates.
The Macau Prison currently features smoking and non-
smoking cells. Smoking is banned within common and outdoor areas. Out of 1,256 inmates, 66 percent are smokers.
In accordance with the new draft, Macau’s government is planning to introduce a full smoking ban in indoor spaces, including casinos. Nevertheless, authorities have apparently relaxed their initial stance and have said they would keep an open mind about the final decision on whether to allow casinos and the airport to retain their smoking lounges.
Under the new draft, inmates would only be allowed to smoke outside. However, they are currently only permitted to use the outdoor area three hours per week. The AL’s Second Standing Committee president, Chan Chak Mo, acknowledged yesterday that, “with the new draft, inmates will no longer be allowed to smoke in their cells and the outdoor area used for sports will be the only venue where they can smoke. This means they will only be able to smoke within that 3-hour per week timeframe.”
Some lawmakers believe that such a restrictive timeframe may end up taking an emotional toll on inmates. “The response we’ve got is that there are social workers who can provide adequate support,” said lawmaker Chan.
The Macau Prison head, Lee Kam Cheong, said that if inmates breach new smoking rules, he will not hesitate to call the Health Bureau inspectors. CP
Prison to incorporate juvenile reformatory
Macao Prison will finalize the merging of its functions next year, incorporating the Juvenile Reformatory School as part of a plan for unified management, according to the Prison’s director Lee Kam Cheong.
Lee said the authorities are now drafting a new constitution and expect to finish the draft next month.
In addition, he cited the the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) revealing that the construction of a new prison has entered the public tender for its second phase. The director said that once the new premises has been constructed, they would consider relocating the juvenile reformatory along with the prison. Nevertheless, he stressed the two entities would not be allocated the same area, as according to the law, the Department for Execution of Punishment and the Department for Education should be treated separately. BY
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