Hong Kong to Announces Tobacco Control Rules Focusing on Smoking in Queues

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.