Taipei's Dihua shopping district to ban smoking from Aug. 1

Taipei, July 4 (CNA) Taipei will designate the Dihua Street shopping district and surrounding areas as smoke-free zones starting Aug. 1, with fines of up to NT$10,000 (US$313.05) for smoking outside designated areas.

The city's Department of Health said in a notice released Friday that the measure is aimed at protecting the public's right to avoid secondhand smoke and creating a healthier outdoor environment.

The ban will cover the Dihua Street shopping district, bounded by Minle Street, Nanjing West Road, Xining North Road and Minsheng West Road.

Meanwhile, the Chifeng Street shopping district near the Xinzhongshan Linear Park will also be designated a smoke-free area from Aug. 1, the health department said, with smoking banned within the area bounded by Section 2 of Zhongshan North Road, Nanjing West Road, Section 2 of Chengde Road and Minsheng West Road.

The department warned that those smoking outside designated areas will be fined NT$2,000 to NT$10,000 under the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act.

The move follows Taipei's earlier ban on smoking in the Ximending shopping district, which took effect on June 1.