Hong Kong pushes ahead with blanket ban on e-cigarettes, with maximum penalty of six months in jail and HK$50,000 fine
- Bill covers anyone who brings in, imports, makes, sells, distributes or promotes alternative smoking products
- Despite major push to stamp out supply, it will still be legal to use them
It may be time to kick the habit for vapers in Hong Kong as officials ready a law to choke the supply, sale and promotion of e-cigarettes, with a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and a fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,370).
A bill to amend the Smoking Ordinance targeting new tobacco products was submitted to the Legislative Council on Wednesday and will go through its first reading on February 20.
Her proposal back then sparked heated debate over whether it would be effective in reducing smoking, and raised questions about the administration’s drastic change in policy from regulation to a blanket ban.
Under the new law, it will still be legal to use the products, though doing so in a non-smoking area will be subject to a fixed penalty of HK$1,500 or a court-imposed fine of HK$5,000.
But anyone who brings in, imports, makes, sells, distributes or promotes new smoking products – including e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn products and herbal cigarettes – could be subject to a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and a fine of HK$50,000 if convicted.
