https://www.scmp.com/rss/325901/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Emily Hung Emily Hung Anyone in Hong Kong found carrying more than five vape pods or 100 heat sticks in public will face a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and up to six months in jail from April 30, while those with smaller quantities will receive a fixed penalty of HK$3,000. The amended tobacco control law also provides for a future territory-wide ban on such products although no timeline has been set, the government said on Thursday. “The government decided to implement the ban in phases, starting with public places, due... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348825/hong-kong-impose-two-tier-penalty-carrying-vapes-public-april-30?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348825/hong-kong-impose-two-tier-penalty-carrying-vapes-public-april-30?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:39:49 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Nearly 90 per cent of Hong Kong smokers cannot distinguish smuggled cigarettes from duty-paid ones under the government’s proposed plain packaging measures, a survey by an advocacy group has found. The Long-term Tobacco Policy Concern Group also urged authorities on Thursday to expand the function of the tobacco stamp duty system to allow consumers to scan QR codes and verify whether a pack had been taxed. “With the current packaging, consumers can tell if a pack is taxed based on the brand... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346327/group-warns-plain-packs-hinder-hongkongers-efforts-detect-smuggled-cigarettes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346327/group-warns-plain-packs-hinder-hongkongers-efforts-detect-smuggled-cigarettes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:53:32 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof The vapes used to be obvious. Bright displays of flavoured liquid, a shop just down the road, a transaction as unremarkable as buying shampoo. Batrisyia, 28, remembers how easy it was. Those days are gone. Or rather, in Malaysia at least, the trade has moved under the table. “It’s definitely less open now,” said Batrisyia, a Johor native who asked to be identified by a pseudonym for fear of backlash. “You don’t see big vape displays like before, and we can’t buy online any more. But it hasn’t... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3344146/malaysias-vape-ban-plan-leaves-14-million-users-regulatory-limbo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3344146/malaysias-vape-ban-plan-leaves-14-million-users-regulatory-limbo?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Less than two weeks after the government launched new smoking controls, it emerged that most residents would have supported even stronger measures. The results of a survey commissioned by the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health are striking evidence that anti-smoking sentiment among Hong Kong residents has hardened. For example, in the survey by the University of Hong Kong, nearly 90 per cent of respondents support tougher controls, including a ban on smoking while walking in the streets.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341233/hongkongers-stand-united-need-more-no-smoking-zones?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341233/hongkongers-stand-united-need-more-no-smoking-zones?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Nearly 90 per cent of Hong Kong residents support stronger smoking control measures, a poll has found, while a separate study estimates that raising tobacco tax progressively could cut the city’s smoking rate significantly within a decade. The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) and academics on Tuesday announced findings of both a survey and a study by two universities. The survey gauged public opinion on tobacco control policies while the study projected and analysed the effects of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339788/most-hong-kong-residents-support-more-smoking-control-measures-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339788/most-hong-kong-residents-support-more-smoking-control-measures-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:32:16 +0000 dpa dpa Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter and Lorde have more in common than chart-topping hits. All three have crafted images that include smoking – whether in music videos, lyrics or public appearances. Are they inadvertently setting a risky example for fans? Carpenter leans over a sink, a cigarette between her fingers, dressed in a corset made entirely of cigarette packs. The photo from a series of Instagram pictures for Interview magazine has more than 2 million likes. In her new music video for the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3337984/smoking-cool-again-charli-xcx-sabrina-carpenter-and-other-stars-not-afraid-light?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3337984/smoking-cool-again-charli-xcx-sabrina-carpenter-and-other-stars-not-afraid-light?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 10:00:24 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The government has stepped up its anti-smoking campaign from the start of the new year with intensified focus on protection from second-hand smoke. It is a step in the right direction, in which effective enforcement of new laws will help drive home the health message to smokers. Ultimately, a meaningful reduction in the city’s smoking rate of about 9 per cent will depend on awareness, education and smoking cessation support as much as increased penalties. The authorities have ramped up... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3338491/stiffer-rules-smoking-step-towards-healthier-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3338491/stiffer-rules-smoking-step-towards-healthier-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 23:15:17 +0000 Fiona Chow,Susan Su Fiona Chow,Susan Su Some smokers are still lighting up at bus stops in Hong Kong despite new rules banning them from doing so while queuing, the Post has observed, with authorities saying they have stepped up inspections at tourist spots and ramped up publicity efforts. The new rules took effect on Thursday and include a ban on anyone smoking at designated boarding points for public transport when waiting in a queue of two or more people. But on the first day of the policy, a Post reporter spotted a man smoking as... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338394/hong-kongs-new-smoking-rules-just-kicked-everyone-sticking-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338394/hong-kongs-new-smoking-rules-just-kicked-everyone-sticking-them?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 08:13:17 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China has unveiled plans to tighten controls over e-cigarette production and investment to address concerns over fierce intra-industry competition and excess capacity, the latest step in the country’s broader effort to enhance its regulatory power over tobacco, a sector which enjoys a functional monopoly. The draft policy, released by the national tobacco regulator on Thursday, follows a State Council opinion issued earlier this month which placed e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches under stiffer... https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3337797/china-bolsters-e-cigarette-regulations-smoke-out-non-compliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3337797/china-bolsters-e-cigarette-regulations-smoke-out-non-compliance?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 09:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A shopping centre in southern China has installed special glass on the doors of men’s toilet cubicles that becomes transparent when people smoke inside, winning applause online. The move involving bathrooms at Shenzhen’s Shuibei International Centre and Shuibei Jinzuo Building, two jewellery shopping malls in Guangdong province, trended on social media on December 16. The glass uses a special technology that is normally opaque and cuts off the power in a few seconds after it detects smoke,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3336723/china-mall-installs-glass-windows-mens-toilet-doors-turn-transparent-when-users-smoke?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3336723/china-mall-installs-glass-windows-mens-toilet-doors-turn-transparent-when-users-smoke?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 01:00:09 +0000 CNA CNA A 25-year-old man was fined S$12,000 (US$9,300) on Wednesday for posting social media videos and photos of himself holding or using e-vaporisers in Singapore. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said this is the first time it has prosecuted someone for posting images of himself vaping on social media. Krish Khalifa, who uses the account name “Rapperboya”, had posted several of these videos and photos on his YouTube, Instagram and TikTok channels between November 2023 and September 2024. He was... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3336864/singapore-fines-man-us9300-over-vaping-videos-deepening-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3336864/singapore-fines-man-us9300-over-vaping-videos-deepening-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 04:53:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The cause of the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire and contributing factors will be considered by the official investigation. But there is one fire-safety issue about which there is no dispute, irrespective of whether a direct link is established with the city’s deadliest blaze in decades. That is smoking on construction or renovation sites. It is, therefore, welcome news that it will soon be banned outright. Residents of the Tai Po estate had long complained about smoking among site workers. There is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3335696/snuffing-out-smoking-hong-kong-construction-sites-will-boost-safety?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3335696/snuffing-out-smoking-hong-kong-construction-sites-will-boost-safety?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 22:45:08 +0000 CNA CNA A 15-year-old girl from Myanmar is the first foreigner to have their Singapore long-term immigration status revoked for possessing an e-vaporiser pod containing etomidate, or a Kpod. A vape pod containing the drug was found in her possession during a routine check by police officers on November 14, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in a joint press release on Monday. She has been issued a Special Pass to allow her to remain in Singapore to assist with... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3335648/singapore-deport-myanmar-teen-under-new-anti-vaping-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3335648/singapore-deport-myanmar-teen-under-new-anti-vaping-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:33:02 +0000 dpa dpa Quitting smoking, even in later life, could help slow down age-related memory problems, a study has found. This adds to evidence that giving up cigarettes may help prevent dementia, experts say, but they stress that more research is needed. A team from University College London (UCL) examined the impact of smoking on age-related cognitive decline, which is when a person’s ability to think, learn and remember gets worse as they get older. The study, published in the Lancet Healthy Longevity... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3329769/quitting-smoking-after-40-linked-slower-memory-decline-50-study-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3329769/quitting-smoking-after-40-linked-slower-memory-decline-50-study-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof As the workday grinds on in Kuala Lumpur, 23-year-old office worker Adib finds solace in a few quiet cigarettes, but his unhealthy habit is about to come at a higher price. From next month, a new government policy will drive up the price of tobacco and alcohol in Malaysia as higher so-called sin taxes take effect. Unveiled by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in last week’s budget, the measure aims to improve public health. Yet it has also raised concerns about the rising cost of living. It... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3329061/malaysias-smokers-and-drinkers-brace-sin-tax-shock-im-sad-and-bit-depressed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3329061/malaysias-smokers-and-drinkers-brace-sin-tax-shock-im-sad-and-bit-depressed?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 03:35:22 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong customs has launched a three-month pilot scheme to test using laser labels on duty-paid tobacco products to help tackle the sale of untaxed cigarettes in the city. Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat said on Tuesday that he was confident the labels would be difficult to counterfeit, adding that local tobacco companies were equipped to produce the laser labels. “They are capable of [producing the labels] and can quickly stick them onto each pack of cigarettes. Both we and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3328110/hong-kong-tests-laser-labels-tobacco-products-3-month-pilot-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3328110/hong-kong-tests-laser-labels-tobacco-products-3-month-pilot-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Oct 2025 08:27:39 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong has tightened controls on tobacco use. But as soon as lawmakers voted almost unanimously for sweeping new measures, there were calls for them to be toughened. The new measures include bans on possessing or using alternative smoking products in public by next April, and on selling flavoured cigarettes other than menthol varieties by 2027. The exception of menthol keeps the city out of step with bans elsewhere. Supporters say non-menthol flavours, which have grown in popularity among... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3325683/hong-kongs-new-anti-smoking-rules-need-be-implemented-care?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3325683/hong-kongs-new-anti-smoking-rules-need-be-implemented-care?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong recently passed a controversial tobacco control bill that sought to further reduce the city’s smoking rate, prompting some lawmakers to raise concerns about the possible impact on tourism and the illicit cigarette trade. The bill covers eight of the 10 tobacco control measures raised by the government in June last year, including a ban on the possession or use of alternative smoking products in public by April 30 of next year, and the sale of flavoured cigarettes other than menthol in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3325439/will-hong-kongs-tobacco-control-bill-cut-smoking-rates-or-hurt-citys-attractiveness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3325439/will-hong-kongs-tobacco-control-bill-cut-smoking-rates-or-hurt-citys-attractiveness?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 11:00:16 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au A school association and a member of Hong Kong’s largest political party have urged the government to take tougher tobacco control measures, including banning vaping devices and outlawing “smoking while walking”. The calls on Friday came a day after lawmakers passed the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Bill following its second and third readings, as the government sought to further reduce the smoking rate, which stood at 9.1 per cent. The bill covers eight of the 10 tobacco control... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3325296/hong-kong-can-go-further-anti-smoking-measures-ban-vaping-devices-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3325296/hong-kong-can-go-further-anti-smoking-measures-ban-vaping-devices-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 05:26:46 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong lawmakers have passed a controversial tobacco control bill that aims to further lower the city’s smoking rate, with the health minister saying the proposed measures have already considered a variety of opinions. The Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Bill was passed on Thursday after the second and third readings, following a last-ditch effort by two lawmakers to delay and amend the government-proposed measures earlier this week. The bill was supported by 74 lawmakers, one opposed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3325210/hong-kong-lawmakers-pass-controversial-tobacco-control-bill-cut-smoking-rate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3325210/hong-kong-lawmakers-pass-controversial-tobacco-control-bill-cut-smoking-rate?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:20:29 +0000 Angel Woo,Oscar Liu Angel Woo,Oscar Liu Two Hong Kong lawmakers representing the business sector have made a last-ditch effort to delay and partially lift the implementation of the government’s tobacco control measures by moving amendments to a bill set to be discussed on Wednesday at the earliest. The amendments by lawmakers Michael Lee Chun-keung and Peter Shiu Ka-fai, both from the pro-business Liberal Party, included a call for the government to lift a proposed ban on selling flavoured conventional smoking products. They also... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3324927/2-hong-kong-lawmakers-seek-delay-partial-lifting-tobacco-control-measures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3324927/2-hong-kong-lawmakers-seek-delay-partial-lifting-tobacco-control-measures?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 12:56:56 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Singapore will start classifying some substances used in vape pods as controlled drugs from next month, paving the way for stiffer penalties as the city state steps up efforts to crack down on vaping. Etomidate, a clinical agent used for inducing general anaesthesia, and related compounds will be treated as Class C drugs for a period of six months, the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Home Affairs said at a briefing on Thursday. The government plans to have new legislation in early... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3323487/singapore-cane-and-jail-dealers-drug-laced-vapes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3323487/singapore-cane-and-jail-dealers-drug-laced-vapes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 08:35:08 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Singapore’s decision to crack down on vaping and treat it as a “drug issue” is likely to benefit the Indonesian island of Batam, its tourism head has said. Situated less than an hour’s ferry ride away, the island was a possible destination for Singaporeans looking to indulge in their now-forbidden activity, Batam Tourism Agency head Ardiwinata told Teras Batam, an Indonesian language news portal. “If the Singaporean government introduces strict policies, their citizens have alternatives to enjoy... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3323380/will-singapores-vaping-crackdown-give-indonesias-batam-tourism-boost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3323380/will-singapores-vaping-crackdown-give-indonesias-batam-tourism-boost?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 11:17:45 +0000 Timon Johnson Timon Johnson Hong Kong health authorities will launch a five-day enforcement operation on Monday to combat illegal smoking in public transport facilities. The Department of Health said on Friday that its Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office would take enforcement actions under operation “Laserflame”. “To protect public health, it is the established policy of the government to discourage smoking, contain the proliferation of tobacco use and protect the public from second-hand smoke,” the department said. It... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3322766/hong-kong-launch-5-day-crackdown-illegal-smoking-public-transport-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3322766/hong-kong-launch-5-day-crackdown-illegal-smoking-public-transport-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 06:08:23 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong customs seized 278 million illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of HK$1.25 billion (US$160.3 million) in more than 80 cases in the first half of the year as part of a cross-regional tobacco smuggling crackdown. The Customs and Excise Department said on Thursday that it had strengthened cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region to curb the inflow of illicit cigarettes since November last year. The 278 million contraband cigarettes seized in 84 large-scale cases during the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3322703/hong-kong-customs-seizes-278-million-cigarettes-tobacco-smuggling-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3322703/hong-kong-customs-seizes-278-million-cigarettes-tobacco-smuggling-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 14:02:30 +0000 dpa dpa Children who vape are more likely to go on to be smokers, be diagnosed with asthma and have poor mental health, new analysis suggests. The largest global review on vaping in young people found “consistent evidence” that children who vape are three times more likely to go on to become smokers. The study also pointed to links between vaping and increased odds of respiratory illness and substance abuse, including drinking and marijuana use. Experts from the University of York and the London School... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3322586/children-who-vape-are-3-times-more-likely-become-smokers-new-study-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3322586/children-who-vape-are-3-times-more-likely-become-smokers-new-study-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 04:15:08 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong tobacco control officers will be equipped with body cameras from Wednesday as they enforce the city’s smoking ban, with official data showing the number of penalty tickets issued last year has risen by almost one-third compared with 2023. Inspectors with the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office will wear the devices while performing their duties to document any unexpected incidents or conflicts, according to the Department of Health. “Starting tomorrow, tobacco and alcohol control... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3322415/hong-kong-tobacco-control-officers-use-body-cameras-when-enforcing-smoking-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3322415/hong-kong-tobacco-control-officers-use-body-cameras-when-enforcing-smoking-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 13:34:33 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A foreigner living in Shanghai has been hailed by Chinese online observers as a “real superhero” after he tried to stop a Chinese man smoking in a restaurant and ended up being attacked. The man, who is believed to be British and goes by the name @alibabameAilun, posted his encounter on July 29 on a short video platform, where he has 87,000 followers. He spotted a Chinese man smoking at a restaurant in Shanghai and went to stop him. A smoking ban in indoor public places has been in place in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3321065/china-based-foreign-influencer-goes-viral-confronting-people-smoking-indoors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3321065/china-based-foreign-influencer-goes-viral-confronting-people-smoking-indoors?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:00:10 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong customs will set up an armed escort team and boost collaboration to quickly dispose of tonnes of confiscated drugs kept in a secret warehouse, otherwise some substances may take 35 years to destroy, the agency’s chief has revealed. Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat told the Post in an exclusive interview that his department had sped up procedures for disposing of confiscated drugs to enhance efficiency and as a measure to improve internal operations. The head of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3320613/hong-kong-customs-sets-armed-escort-team-drugs-pile-secret-warehouse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3320613/hong-kong-customs-sets-armed-escort-team-drugs-pile-secret-warehouse?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 02:00:12 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hongkongers at a high risk of developing a common form of cancer should proactively get themselves screened as lung adenocarcinoma is often discovered at late stages, medical experts have warned, following a high-profile diagnosis of a local actor. On Wednesday, actor Will Or Wai-lam revealed in his social media post that he had been diagnosed with stage-four lung adenocarcinoma in May, which forced him to pull out of what was set to be his first theatre production. The actor’s confirmation of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3320538/hongkongers-lung-cancer-risk-urged-get-tested-after-actor-will-ors-diagnosis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3320538/hongkongers-lung-cancer-risk-urged-get-tested-after-actor-will-ors-diagnosis?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Aug 2025 09:47:10 +0000 Hadi Azmi Hadi Azmi Malaysians have accused the government of dragging its feet over a total ban on vapes as mounting evidence of health damage, particularly among young people, fuels public alarm. Accounts of prematurely scarred lungs have become all too common, with users and parents alike sharing harrowing stories of harm caused by electronic cigarettes. Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said on Monday his ministry would commission a multi-agency study, involving the finance and both domestic and international... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3319951/malaysia-drags-feet-vape-ban-youth-lung-damage-fears-mount?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3319951/malaysia-drags-feet-vape-ban-youth-lung-damage-fears-mount?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 06:29:00 +0000 Sean Dix Sean Dix In the beginning, there were no separate smoking sections because everybody smoked everywhere. And I mean everywhere: with kids in the car, in cinemas, buses, trains, McDonald’s (and everyone else’s) restaurants, maternity wards, doctors’ clinics, supermarkets, lifts, bathrooms, classrooms and aeroplanes. Pretty much the only place you couldn’t smoke was at the petrol pump. Even kids like me got in the act, “smoking” ever-popular candy cigarettes. (It made me look cool and grown-up, just like... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/article/3317655/smoking-planes-has-been-banned-years-so-why-are-there-still-ashtrays?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/article/3317655/smoking-planes-has-been-banned-years-so-why-are-there-still-ashtrays?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:00:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters The World Health Organization is pushing countries to raise the prices of sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50 per cent over the next 10 years through taxation, its strongest backing yet for taxes to help tackle chronic public health problems. The United Nations health agency said the move would help cut consumption of the products, which contribute to diseases like diabetes and some cancers, as well as raise money at a time when development aid is shrinking and public debt rising. “Health... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3316711/who-pushes-50-price-increase-sugary-drinks-alcohol-and-tobacco?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3316711/who-pushes-50-price-increase-sugary-drinks-alcohol-and-tobacco?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 16:34:30 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu China’s No 4 politician was among senior Beijing officials and other heavyweights who sent wreaths to the wake for Hong Kong tobacco and media tycoon Charles Ho Tsu-kwok. State-run Xinhua called Ho a patriotic businessman and “an intimate friend” of the Communist Party of China in an article published on Saturday night. “Ho played an important role in Hong Kong’s smooth transition, successful handover and maintenance of prosperity and stability. He supported the nation’s reform and opening-up... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316233/chinas-no-4-official-joins-mourning-death-hong-kong-tycoon-charles-ho?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316233/chinas-no-4-official-joins-mourning-death-hong-kong-tycoon-charles-ho?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jun 2025 13:26:36 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong health authorities are investigating a carbon monoxide poisoning incident involving a 31-year-old man, who lost consciousness and sustained a head injury after smoking shisha at a Mong Kok bar. But Hubbly Bubbly, the bar in question, told the Post on Tuesday it stopped offering shisha in the middle of last year and saw no customers fainting recently. Authorities also conducted a spot check and did not identify any illegal smoking. The Department of Health said it received a report from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3315677/hong-kong-man-faints-after-smoking-shisha-triggering-investigation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3315677/hong-kong-man-faints-after-smoking-shisha-triggering-investigation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jun 2025 10:57:36 +0000 Hadi Azmi Hadi Azmi Three Singaporean men have been arrested in a Malaysian drug bust of US$1.7 million worth of cocaine-laced vape liquid destined for sale overseas, in a case spotlighting Kuala Lumpur’s emerging role as a hub for a new generation of narcotics delivered through e-cigarettes. On Monday, Malaysia’s federal narcotics department announced the seizure of nearly 5,000 cartridges of the cocaine-laced liquid from a vehicle parked at a hotel in Ampang, an upscale suburb east of the capital, Kuala... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3315574/singaporean-trio-smoked-out-malaysias-us17-million-cocaine-vape-bust?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3315574/singaporean-trio-smoked-out-malaysias-us17-million-cocaine-vape-bust?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jun 2025 03:53:02 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It is not that unusual for well-known people to become public anti-smoking converts after being diagnosed with diseases related to tobacco use. An example was tycoon Charles Ho Tsu-kwok, who died this week aged 75, months after revealing he had lung cancer. Ho was involved in national and local affairs as a standing committee member of China’s top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and as a former owner of Sing Tao News Corporation. But what... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3314420/anti-smoking-stand-tobacco-tycoon-lives-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3314420/anti-smoking-stand-tobacco-tycoon-lives-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 22:19:45 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification I refer to “70% of Hongkongers under 25 have tried e-cigarettes: university poll” (May 23). While some support a complete ban on alternative smoking products (ASPs), their widespread use is crystal... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3313210/rethink-measures-against-e-cigarettes-smoke-free-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3313210/rethink-measures-against-e-cigarettes-smoke-free-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jun 2025 03:30:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A ban on disposable vapes came into force across the UK on Sunday as the British government aims to stem their use by children, reduce litter and prevent the leaking of harmful chemicals into the environment. The ban makes it illegal for any retailer – online or in-store – to sell vapes, whether they contain nicotine or not. They will still be able to sell reusable vapes. The crackdown follows the soaring use of disposable vapes in schools and a rising tide of rubbish as users dispose of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3312672/uk-bans-single-use-vapes-stem-use-children-and-reduce-harmful-litter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3312672/uk-bans-single-use-vapes-stem-use-children-and-reduce-harmful-litter?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Jun 2025 19:53:37 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Each year on May 31, the world observes World No Tobacco Day, a vital occasion to confront one of the most preventable global health threats. Launched by the World Health Organization in 1988, the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3312395/tobacco-industrys-sly-promotion-tactics-must-be-countered-force?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3312395/tobacco-industrys-sly-promotion-tactics-must-be-countered-force?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 May 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A ban on disposable vapes goes into effect across the UK on Sunday in a bid to protect children’s health and tackle a “throwaway” culture. “For too long, single-use vapes have blighted our streets as litter and hooked our children on nicotine,” junior environment minister Mary Creagh said. She said the government was calling “time on these nasty devices” – a type of e-cigarette which are very popular with young people – and banning sales of single-use vapes or their supply in a crackdown on UK... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3312558/uks-ban-disposable-vapes-sparks-debate-effectiveness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3312558/uks-ban-disposable-vapes-sparks-debate-effectiveness?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 May 2025 01:57:04 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse France will ban smoking in all outdoor places that can be accessed by children, including beaches, parks and bus stops, the health and family minister announced Thursday. Famed as a country where smokers linger over cigarettes on cafe terraces or strolling down cobblestone streets, France has increasingly tightened restrictions on tobacco use in public spaces in recent years. The new ban, which will enter into force on July 1, will cover all spaces where children could be present, including... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3312367/france-ban-smoking-outdoors-most-places?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3312367/france-ban-smoking-outdoors-most-places?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2025 22:19:24 +0000 Joshua Kwok Joshua Kwok Nearly 70 per cent of Hongkongers aged under 25 have tried e-cigarettes, while 60 per cent said they picked alternative tobacco products because of peer pressure, a university study has found. Separate research by another university found that more than one-third of regular smokers supported plain packaging for cigarettes, which Hong Kong plans to implement in 2027. The government proposed 10 tobacco control measures in June last year, including plain packaging requirements and banning flavoured... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3311549/70-hongkongers-under-25-experimented-e-cigarettes-university-poll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3311549/70-hongkongers-under-25-experimented-e-cigarettes-university-poll?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 May 2025 08:54:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Visitors mill around a bright red hilltop pagoda in southwest China, gazing down at a sprawling cigarette factory that has put an otherwise unremarkable city on the map. China is home to a third of the world’s smokers and tobacco-related diseases are a major cause of death in the country – and likely to worsen as its population rapidly ages. The Chinese government hopes to dramatically reduce that by the end of the decade, but is struggling to do so as it clashes with a powerful state tobacco... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3309551/chinese-cigarette-producing-citys-draw-tourists-shows-challenge-reducing-smoking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3309551/chinese-cigarette-producing-citys-draw-tourists-shows-challenge-reducing-smoking?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 May 2025 06:45:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke was only 24 when she suffered a stroke following a workout. Known for her role as Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO fantasy series, Clarke felt a severe headache, began vomiting and then collapsed in the bathroom of her gym. At the time, she was the definition of youthful fitness and certainly not the sort of person you would expect to have a stroke. Her type of stroke is known as a subarachnoid haemorrhage, caused by bleeding in the area between the brain and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3308513/emilia-clarke-had-2-strokes-her-20s-so-what-causes-them-and-how-recognise-one?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3308513/emilia-clarke-had-2-strokes-her-20s-so-what-causes-them-and-how-recognise-one?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 May 2025 20:15:07 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Lam Ka-sing Elizabeth Cheung,Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong bar operators have urged authorities to regulate rather than ban flavoured shisha products, saying customers are unlikely to consume the traditional version that will still be allowed under government proposals. Industry representatives issued the call on Monday after the government gazetted an amended bill last week proposing tighter controls on smoking. The bill will be submitted to the Legislative Council for a first reading on Wednesday. “A blanket ban is not a solution,” said Ben... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3308233/hong-kong-bars-urge-regulation-rather-ban-flavoured-shisha-products?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3308233/hong-kong-bars-urge-regulation-rather-ban-flavoured-shisha-products?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Apr 2025 10:33:53 +0000 Sammy Heung Sammy Heung Hong Kong authorities have revealed more details on eight of the 10 tobacco control measures in an amended bill on Friday, including a ban on possessing alternative smoking products (ASPs) starting from April 30 next year. The sale of conventional smoking products with flavours other than menthol are also expected to be banned from the second quarter of 2027. The measures aim to cut the city’s smoking rate to 7.8 per cent by this year, from the current 9.1 per cent. The Post unpacks the measures... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3308038/how-coming-new-anti-smoking-measures-hong-kong-will-affect-you?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3308038/how-coming-new-anti-smoking-measures-hong-kong-will-affect-you?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Apr 2025 09:45:07 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Tourists will be unaffected by Hong Kong’s new proposed control measures on tobacco products, an official has said, promising that such policies will strike a balance between bolstering public health and the economy. Deputy Secretary for Health Eddie Lee Lik-kong said on Saturday that authorities had already taken tourists’ needs into account when drafting the new measures, adding that their effects on the economy would be “minimal”. A day earlier, the government gazetted an amendment that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3308028/hong-kongs-new-tobacco-control-measures-wont-affect-tourists-official?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3308028/hong-kongs-new-tobacco-control-measures-wont-affect-tourists-official?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Apr 2025 06:50:09 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Hong Kong is not resting on its laurels when it comes to what we have achieved in protecting public health from tobacco. The government is supporting an amendment bill to strengthen tobacco control.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3307701/hong-kong-right-curb-smoking-despite-tobacco-lobby-pushback?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3307701/hong-kong-right-curb-smoking-despite-tobacco-lobby-pushback?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Apr 2025 03:30:07 +0000 A 15-year-old boy was hospitalised after suffering a seizure while vaping in a school toilet, the latest case of an e-cigarette or vaping injury involving a minor, as Malaysia’s government dithers over calls to ban the devices. The teen had reportedly sneaked out from class with two friends during an exam on Monday in the northernmost state of Perlis and suffered a seizure not long after he started vaping. “The student was unconscious and foaming at the mouth. The teacher immediately alerted the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3307384/malaysian-teen-has-seizure-after-vaping-reignites-debate-device-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3307384/malaysian-teen-has-seizure-after-vaping-reignites-debate-device-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Apr 2025 02:57:50 +0000