HONG KONG
Officials are readying a law to cut the supply, sale, and promotion of e-cigarettes.
According to the new law, anyone who brings in, imports, makes, sells, distributes or promotes new smoking products – including e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn products, and herbal cigarettes – will be punished with a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and a fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,370) if convicted.
However, using these products will still be legal under this new law, 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.
Possession of the products or any part of them for the purpose of manufacturing, sale, or distribution will be subject to the same penalty. Giving these products as a prize or gift will also be prohibited, while cargo and people in transit will be exempted.
Health experts and analysts have pointed out the irony of the ban prohibiting the importing, manufacturing, selling, promotion, and distribution of the new products but does not prohibit the use of them. This will only serve to encourage people to buy the products from the black market. Paradoxically, the adjacent territory of Shenzhen is where the majority of the world’s e-cigarettes are manufactured and the largest exhibition for e-cigarettes is held.