China News Service, April 26. According to the Hong Kong Commercial Daily, the SAR government has stipulated that from this Saturday (30th), the import, manufacture, sale, distribution and promotion of alternative smoking products such as electronic cigarettes and heating cigarettes will be completely banned in Hong Kong.
The report pointed out that many "smokers" have started to stock up recently, and some merchants' sales have tripled, and some stores have launched "buy one get one free" or a 30% discount on closing and clearing stock.
According to an earlier survey by the Hong Kong Newspaper Vendor Association, about one-third of the smokers in Hong Kong use electronic cigarettes, and the number reaches about 200,000.
Among them, 700 respondents refused to quit smoking, 90% of them switched to traditional cigarettes, and the rest chose "other channels" to continue purchasing heated cigarette products.
The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health stated that there are no safe smoking products in the world. Heated cigarettes contain real tobacco, the concentration of nicotine and tar is similar to that of traditional cigarettes, and 80 other substances are more harmful to health. They also produce second-hand smoke that is toxic and carcinogenic. , while endangering the health of others is also addictive.
However, the heated cigarette concern group said that heated cigarettes such as e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, but traditional cigarettes can still be sold.
The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health also stated that it expects the SAR government to comprehensively strengthen its tobacco control policy.