Taipei Councilor Proposes Negative-Pressure Smoking Room at Huai-Ai Hall; Mayor Chiang Promises Evaluation

According to CNA, Taipei City Councilor Yang Chih-tou proposed during a city council session on the 1st that the city should install a negative-pressure smoking room at Huai-Ai Hall as a pilot project to improve the smoking environment. Mayor Chiang Wan-an responded that the city would evaluate the proposal. Chiang noted that the city has already installed five negative-pressure smoking rooms—three in Ximending, one at Zhongshan Park, and one at Shuanglian Station—which have been well-received, with 43,000 users recorded as of May 20. He added that starting in June, the city will implement a dual approach of guidance and fines in the Ximending area. Regarding concerns about seed-selling business registration, the Market Administration Office stated that they have not received any complaints or reports and will investigate and report back within a week.