
According to The Standard's report on June 5th, the Hong Kong SAR government will release the results of a public consultation on tobacco control strategies at today's (June 6th) press conference. One of the measures to be introduced includes individually marking taxed cigarettes.
According to sources, the government is set to introduce a short-term measure by passing legislation to ban smoking in public queues. This move is seen as an alternative solution, as the government has found it difficult to enforce legal penalties on people smoking while walking on the streets, a behavior jokingly referred to as "locomotive behavior" in the city.
According to reports, other short-term measures include:
- The warning area on tobacco packaging will be increased from 85% to 100%, and the government will have full control over the content of the packaging.
- Alternative tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco will also be prohibited, with possession of such items considered illegal. (It is reported that Hong Kong officially implemented a ban on e-cigarettes on April 30, 2022.
- According to the 2021 Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Ordinance, importing, promoting, manufacturing, selling, and commercially holding e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and their accessories are prohibited.)
- Non-smoking areas will be expanded to include schools, clinics, and hospitals. Providing tobacco products free of charge to individuals under 18 years old, including adolescents and children, will also be considered illegal.
For its medium to long-term strategy, the government has not yet determined a specific implementation timeline. However, the government has indicated that it will continue to study banning smoking in public areas and prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to individuals born after a certain year.
As early as 2023, the smoking rate in Hong Kong, China had already dropped to 9.1%. The Hong Kong government aims to further reduce this number to 7.8% next year.
It is reported that, in addition to the Minister of Health Lo Chung-mau, today's press conference will also be attended by Commissioner of Customs Louise Ho Pui-shan, Director of Health Ronald Lam Man-kin, Deputy Secretary of Health Eddie Lee Lik-kong, and Director of the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office Fung Ying.
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