According to a report by RTHK on June 14th, Lo Chung-mau, the Director of the Hong Kong Department of Health, dismissed concerns from lawmakers on Friday (14th) who feared that banning e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco would reduce Hong Kong's tourist appeal.
Last week, the Hong Kong government proposed 10 measures to reduce the number of smokers in the city, including a total ban on e-cigarettes and a ban on smoking while queuing.
During a legislative meeting, lawmaker Starry Lee expressed that Hong Kong could lose its competitiveness compared to other international financial centers that allow smoking, such as London. Local retail industry lawmaker Peter Shiu also stated that the smoking ban would deter tourists from visiting Hong Kong.
In response, Lo Chung-mau stated that people do not only come to Hong Kong, China to smoke. He explained, "The majority of tourists who come to Hong Kong, China are non-smokers. Non-smokers always outnumber smokers. They come to Hong Kong, China not just to smoke, but to seek business opportunities, experience our cuisine, and explore tourist attractions, among other things. Therefore, when we have a smoke-free, vibrant, and healthy Hong Kong, China, undoubtedly it is always better to have a smoke-free city.
Legislators are also concerned about limitations on law enforcement. Another legislative council member, Chan Pui-leung, from the Election Committee Industry, stated that the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office is short-staffed and the definition of queuing is unclear. Similarly, legislator Tommy Cheung from the catering industry suggested that the government should allocate more resources to educate young people about the dangers of smoking, instead of focusing solely on smoking bans.
Finally, the director added that creating a smoke-free Hong Kong requires not only enforcement of laws.
In fact, this not only relies on law enforcement, but also involves using relevant law enforcement measures to establish a culture, a norm, so that everyone will know which areas are smoke-free. At the same time, it can also be said that everyone is a smoking control ambassador.
He further added that the government's goal is to reduce the current smoking rate from 9.1% to 7.8% by next year.
We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.
Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn
Notice
1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.
2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.
3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.
4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.
Copyright
This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.
For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com
AI Assistance Disclaimer
This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.
We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com
