Hong Kong mulls drastic measures to further reduce number of smokers, despite record rate drop below 10 per cent

• Health minister Sophia Chan says authorities looking into three-pronged approach in control strategy, including expanding statutory non-smoking areas
• Despite record drop in cigarette smokers, number of residents vaping surged from 7,200 in 2019 to 17,500 last year

Hong Kong is considering more drastic measures to reduce its number of cigarette smokers, even as the figure dropped below 10 per cent, the health minister has revealed.

Authorities revealed on Thursday the proportion of residents who smoked fell to 9.5 per cent last year, dropping from 10.2 per cent in 2019, a decline that puts the government within reach of its goal to cut tobacco use to 7.8 per cent of the population by 2025.

But vaping had increased “significantly” by nearly 1.5 times in the past two years, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said, a rise she attributed to influence from peers and curiosity among young people.

Also read:

Hong Kong Vaping Association President Visits 2FIRSTS in Shenzhen

Exclusive With HK Vaping Association President