A young man vaping on the streets of Hong Kong
Hong Kong is set to ban the public possession and use of e-cigarettes as early as mid 2026 in an existing anti-tobacco agenda.
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A report by a local news outlet on 10 February says the city’s Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau disclosed the information on Sunday on a television program, adding that it is in a bid to protect the city’s young people.
Enforcing ban
Hong Kong had in 2022 banned the import, manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes in the city. However, the product continues to be seen and used, which has become a major concern to the health authorities.
This time, the government is sending a bill to the legislature in April to enforce the ban, which is expected to come into effect by mid 2026. Chung-mau said:
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“To protect our young people, we believe it is time to ban the use of e-cigarette cartridges. We will start by legislating against outdoor possession and use. Once the public is accustomed to (the ban), we will implement it in all places.”
According to Chung-mau, the ban will start with public places because there will be many challenges with enforcement in indoor areas initially.
He added that many people still vaping in the city rely on illegal imports despite the 2022 law that spells out strict punishments for violations.
The target is to reduce the prevalence of vaping from 9.1% in 2023 to 7.8% this year, and even lower once the ban is enforced in 2026.
Joining other countries
Hong Kong is not the first jurisdiction to ban the public possession and use of vapes. Several other countries have banned the use of the recreational drug, including Brazil. Argentina, Australia, Thailand, etc.
In addition, the authorities will push for the ban of non-menthol flavored cigarettes as part of the legislative policy in April.
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