Taipei Expands Smoking Ban in Ximending, Fines Up to NT$10,000 Starting June 1

The Taipei City Government is promoting a smoke-free city initiative, designating the Ximending commercial district as a pilot zone. Starting June 1, the area around Exit 4 of MRT Ximen Station will be included in the smoking ban, and violators will face fines between NT$2,000 and NT$10,000. Additionally, the Department of Health announced the opening of a new negative-pressure smoking room behind Exit 1 of MRT Shuanglian Station, bringing the total number of such facilities in the city to six. The city aims to protect the public from secondhand smoke through better management of smoking areas.