The announcement is made almost three years after the territory of southern China has banned the importation, manufacture and sale of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Hong Kong will ban the possession and use of electronic cigarettes Until mid -2026 due to the health implications of young residents, authorities of the Chinese semi -autonomous region said.
“To protect our young people, we believe it is time to prohibit the use of electronic cigarette cartridges,” said Secretary for Health, Lo Chung-Mau on television.
“We will start by legislating against possession and use [de cigarros eletrónicos] outdoors, “he added.” When everyone gets used to [à proibição]let’s implement it everywhere, “he added
The announcement was made almost three years after the territory of southern China prohibited the importation, manufacture and sale of electronic cigarettes and .
According to the Hong Kong law, anyone who imports electronic cigarettes can face up to seven years in prison and a fine of two million dollars from Hong Kong (250,000 euros). Manufacturers and sellers risk catching up to six months in prison.
Also the neighboring region of Macau prohibited, in 2022, the manufacture, distribution, importation, export and transportation at the entrance and exit of the territory of electronic cigarettes.
The government justified the changes to the law with “the strong evidence that this type of tobacco product is not only harmful to health, but also the use can endanger the safety of people”, noting that the consumption of electronic cigarettes has increased, increased, increased, increased, increased, increased, the consumption of electronic cigarettes, especially among young people.
Since 2015, the consumption of electronic cigarettes among young people aged 13 to 15 has increased “from 2.6% to 4%”, according to data revealed in May 2022 by the director of health services in Macao.
That is, he stressed Alvis Lo Iek Long, there are already young people to use electronic cigarettes than traditional (2.1%).
The law provides for penalties to offenders worth four thousand patacas (462 euros), and in the case of entities, a fine between 20 thousand patacas (2,310 euros) and 200 thousand patacas (23,100 euros) can be applied.
Although the proposal was unanimously approved, during the debate in the Legislative Assembly, several deputies maintained that Macau should go further and advance also with the total ban on the use of electronic cigarettes.
Then Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Elsie to Ieong U, confirmed that the government consisted later forbid the use of electronic cigarettes after giving “some time” to smokers who can “have some in stock.”
