China News Service, Hong Kong, April 28. The Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government reminded the public, inbound tourists and the trade on the 28th that in light of the "Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (the "Ordinance") which came into effect on April 30, health The Department of Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office will begin implementing the new law.
The Ordinance prohibits the import, promotion, manufacture, sale or commercial possession of alternative smoking products.
Violators can be fined up to HK$50,000 and imprisoned for 6 months.
A spokesman for the Department of Health pointed out that the ban covers e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, herbal cigarettes and their accessories.
Tobacco and alcohol control inspectors will conduct inspections starting on the 30th, and will investigate complaints and take enforcement actions in response to complaints.
According to the Ordinance, no one may import alternative smoking products into Hong Kong, including as packages or cargo, or by inbound passengers.
Items carried by persons transiting through the Hong Kong International Airport without going through immigration clearance during the period, air transshipment cargo, and transit items that have been left on an aircraft or vessel are exempt.
Passengers who bring the relevant products into Hong Kong, regardless of the quantity of the products or whether they are for personal use, are required to declare to the customs.
Under the "Ordinance", no one is allowed to smoke or carry activated alternative smoking products in the statutory no-smoking area, and offenders will be fined a fixed amount of HK$1,500.
The spokesman also advised the public not to use any alternative smoking products, stressing that the nicotine content of these products is similar to that of traditional cigarettes, which is addictive.
In addition, the health hazards of prolonged exposure to these new products are unknown.
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