With e-cigarette ban on horizon in Hong Kong, activists on both sides ramp up the pressure
- Heated Tobacco Concern Group releases survey that suggests ban will do little to encourage users to give up smoking
- But tobacco opponents say the move is long overdue and the health of young people cannot be put at risk
Banning e-cigarettes and similar smoking products in Hong Kong will do little to encourage people who use heated tobacco products to give up the habit, a survey suggests, with nine out of 10 users saying they will simply switch to regular cigarettes.
But health activists say the ban is long overdue and the tobacco lobby is putting the health of young people at risk by arguing the proposed legislation is misguided.
Groups on both sides of the debate are ramping up pressure as the Legislative Council prepares to take up the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2019, which is aimed at banning e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Lawmakers have been circling around the issue since 2014, but with the city’s largest political party indicating it will back the bill, the ban appears to be on the way.
The government wants the Legislative Council to approve the law before the end of its session in October and it could be in force as early as April.
Stakeholders on both sides of the issue are arguing the merits of whether to ban both e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products or to ban the former but permitting and regulating the sale of the latter.