THE city's vice mayor yesterday announced the launch of an official fact-finding mission in preparation for an extension to the ban on smoking. Under proposals detailed earlier this year, the restriction on smoking indoors will be extended to all public venues, workplaces and public transport facilities, while selected outdoor venues, including parks, tourism spots, hospital grounds and places where children congregate, will be added to the list of restricted areas. In a bid to garner public opinion on the proposals, officials will visit airports, railway stations, restaurants and hotels across the city over the coming weeks, said Vice Mayor Weng Tiehui.