Hong Kong Considers Lifting Export Ban on E-Cigarettes

On November 15th, 2022 at 2:30 pm, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Electronic Cigarette Association, Chen Minhui, visited the Shenzhen office of 2FIRSTS (www.2firsts.com), a global professional media outlet for the electronic cigarette industry. The Vice President of 2FIRSTS, Luo Feng, is conducting an exclusive interview with Chen discussing the topic of the "Possible lifting of the ban on the land and sea export of electronic cigarettes and other heated tobacco products in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The Chairman of the Hong Kong Vaping Association, Chen Wen-hui, paid a visit to the offices of 2FIRSTS in Bao'an District, Shenzhen. Image source: 2FIRSTS.

President Chen Wenhui interviewed - Photo source: 2FIRSTS

According to a source familiar with the matter, Hong Kong may lift its ban on the import and export of electronic cigarettes and other heated tobacco products by land and sea before the end of the year, in order to stimulate growth in government revenue. Hong Kong is a major transit point for China's electronic cigarette products, and as a result, this news has attracted attention from the industry. The report was published by the South China Morning Post on October 18th.

A government insider stated that due to the significant value of the re-export market, senior officials are considering relaxing the transit ban on smoking alternatives exported from Hong Kong. This is aimed at relieving the increasingly severe financial pressure on the Hong Kong government.

According to a report by the Electronic Cigarette Committee of the China Electronic Commerce Association and produced by 2FIRSTS, 95% of the world's electronic cigarette products are manufactured in mainland China with approximately 90% of their export value totaling 1.38 billion yuan ($19.23 billion USD).

According to current Hong Kong laws that were revised last year and became effective at the end of April, it is illegal for anyone to import, sell or manufacture electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes, among others. Violators may face fines of up to HK$50,000 (US$6,370) and up to six months in jail.

According to another survey, the estimated annual shipment volume of affected e-cigarettes is 330,000 tons, accounting for approximately 10% of Hong Kong's annual aviation exports. The ban will impact the re-export value by more than 120 billion yuan. Therefore, lifting the ban on land and sea exports of e-cigarettes and other heated tobacco products will have a positive impact on Hong Kong's government revenue.

2FIRSTS will continue to report on the progress related to the Hong Kong e-cigarette export ban. In addition, we will also release an exclusive interview with President Chen Wenhui.

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