The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Friday gazetted an amended bill to implement a new phase of tobacco control measures.

The Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, formulated by the Health Bureau (HHB), will primary focus on combating illicit cigarettes and preventing the new generation from smoking.

Under the new ordinance, the maximum penalty for offenses relating to duty-not-paid tobacco has been raised from a HK$1 million fine and two-year imprisonment to a HK$2 million fine and seven-year imprisonment.

The penalty for offenses of failing to declare to Customs Officers compoundable under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance has been raised from HK$2,000 to HK$5,000.

Under the amended legislation, cigarettes sold at a price lower than the tobacco duty are required to be proved to be duty-paid.

It also prohibits the provision of alternative smoking products and conventional smoking products to persons aged below 18.

Relevant offenses will be listed under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance to enable the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) to freeze assets associated with illicit tobacco activities.

"Smoking is the most important but preventable risk factor leading to death and disease. The government is determined to further reduce the smoking prevalence of Hong Kong and minimize the impact of second-hand smoke on the public," said a spokesperson for the HHB.

The gazettal of the amendment ordinance symbolizes the determination of the entire society to take forward tobacco control and safeguard public health, the spokesperson added.

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For combating illicit cigarettes, the C&ED will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach and take stringent enforcement actions on all fronts to combat the sale of illicit cigarettes, the government said on Friday.

The C&ED is making preparations for the implementation of a duty stamp system to combat duty-not-paid cigarettes on the market, and a pilot scheme is expected to be rolled out in early October. The first phase of the duty stamp system will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2026, with full implementation targeted for the second quarter of 2027, the government added.

The C&ED has also strengthened publicity for arriving passengers at sea, land and air control points, aiming to remind passengers of the duty-free concession limit on cigarettes that they can bring into Hong Kong and the new penalties for offences related to illicit cigarettes.

Moreover, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health will formulate implementation guidelines and inter-departmental collaboration and liaison mechanisms for the relevant new offences under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance to ensure a smoother law enforcement process, according to the statement.