The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region -HKSAR-RRB-sar) gazetTobacco Control cAmendment-RBillndment) bill 2025 to implement a new phase of tobacco contrFridaysures friday. The bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for First and second reading on May 30.
According to a report on Dagongwenhui.com, the bill proposes a number of tobacco control measures. Starting from January next year, it will prohibit people from waiting for public transport in designated areas, queue to smoke in cinemas, hospitals, public playgrounds, sports grounds, etc. . “Queue” means the queue of two or more people. Fines doubled from HK $1,500 to HK $3,000. From April 30 next year, possession of alternative smoking products, such as electronic cigarettes, will be banned in public places.
The Hong Kong SAR government stressed that it would give priority to strengthening the fight against illicit cigarettes, Dagong.com reported. It is an offence to sell cigarettes for less than the tax rate without proof. Related offences, such as selling duty-not-paid cigarettes, will be increased to the maximum penalty of HK $2 million and imprisonment for 7 years. The fixed penalty will be increased from HK $2,000 to HK $5,000 for any person who brings in more than 19 sticks of duty-free cigarettes.
The plan aims to further reduce tobacco use, reduce the harm of second-hand smoke and safeguard public health, Dagongwenhui.com reported. In formulating the policy, the HKSAR Government has fully incorporated the results of the public consultation, and more than 90% of the public support further reduction of smoking rate.