Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau on Wednesday urged Hong Kong lawmakers to support stricter tobacco-control measures, warning that smoking-related health issues could further strain the city’s healthcare system amid an aging population trend and rising medical costs.
The Hong Kong Special Administration Region government on Wednesday moved an amendment to the Legislative Council to tighten the city’s smoking curbs, which include increasing the fixed fine for people carrying more than 19 duty-free cigarettes, from HK$2,000 ($258) to HK$5,000; prohibiting smoking in more public areas; and introducing a label to distinguish tax-paid cigarettes from smuggled ones.
Speaking during the second reading of the proposed amendment in the Legislative Council, Lo criticized tobacco companies for using “misleading tactics” to rebrand their harmful products, disguising their dangers and targeting younger generations.
Those strategies amount to profiting at the expense of society’s health and wealth, Lo said, stressing that smoking-control efforts must progress relentlessly, and are like “rowing a boat against the current”.
“If you don’t move forward, you fall back,” he said.
Apart from imposing a higher fine on passengers carrying cigarettes in excess of the number permitted, the proposed revisions also aim to prohibit smoking in queuing areas for public transport, cinemas, hospitals, public playgrounds, and sports grounds, when two or more people are waiting in line. The fixed fine for any such violations will be HK$3,000.
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To combat cigarette smuggling, the government plans to introduce a tax-paid labeling system, with a pilot program expected to run in the last quarter of 2026 and with full implementation by 2027.
Tobacco tax in Hong Kong has risen twice over the past three years, and accounts for nearly 65 percent of the price of a major brand’s pack of cigarettes currently.
Another major initiative targets tobacco products that are designed to appeal to young people, such as alternative smoking products.
Lo said that, from April 30, 2026, the government will ban the possession of alternative smoking substances in public places, with the aim of curbing the use of such products for inhaling drugs or harmful substances. The authorities may also consider imposing further restrictions, including banning smoking devices.
Lo highlighted that the proposed rules are evidence-based, supported by scientific research and global best practices, enjoy broad public consensus, and would “benefit Hong Kong’s health without harming its economy”.
Responding to calls for banning “walking and smoking” to reduce the public’s exposure to secondhand smoke, Lo said the government will adopt a flexible approach by designating specific no-smoking zones rather than impose a blanket ban.
In the designated zones, smoking will be prohibited — whether individuals are moving or stationary, he said.
The bill is set to undergo further scrutiny in the legislature before a final vote.
