According to the English-language Sing Tao Daily, on January 22, the Hong Kong Smoking and Health Committee held a press conference calling on the Hong Kong SAR government to completely ban flavored cigarettes. The committee pointed out that flavored cigarettes are increasingly popular among women and young people, and the added flavors such as mint, fruit, etc., have become important factors attracting young people and women to try smoking.
According to a survey conducted jointly by the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health and the University of Hong Kong from January to May 2024, more than 5,600 respondents were interviewed by phone, with 46% being smokers. Among female smokers aged 15 to 29, over 86% use flavored cigarettes, the highest proportion across all age groups. Additionally, the survey found that more than 70% of the public supports a ban on flavored tobacco products, and this proportion is on the rise.
Professor Man Ping Wong from the University of Hong Kong School of Nursing stated that a comprehensive ban on flavored cigarettes would effectively reduce opportunities for young people to try smoking due to misconceptions.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government had previously included the "ban on flavored cigarettes" as a short-term tobacco control measure, with plans to submit related legislative proposals to the Legislative Council for review by the end of 2024. The measure aims to reduce the use of flavored cigarettes by tobacco companies to attract young people and women, while also helping smokers reduce their addiction and increase the success rate of quitting smoking.
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