appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

Emily Hung

Twenty-two-year-old Hongkonger Elio* started smoking at the age of 16, when he was studying abroad in New Zealand.
But what started as a way to kill time soon became a daily habit to relieve the stress of an uncertain future.
Despite suffering from a collapsed lung in 2020, he resumed smoking and drinking a few months after recovery, later switching to e-cigarettes amid rising tobacco taxes.
After the 2022 ban on the sale of vapes, he restricted his habit to one capsule every three days – equivalent to 20 cigarettes in terms of nicotine content – but continued to purchase pods online to sustain his supply.
He vapes only in private to avoid enforcement officers.
“If I haven’t vaped in a while, I feel really down and lethargic,” he said.
With Hong Kong set to ban the possession of alternative tobacco products in public places from Thursday, Elio remains undeterred and plans to continue vaping in private.
“I have no plans to quit cigarettes at all. I’m not hurting anyone, so why is vaping treated like doing drugs?” he asked.
From April 30, anyone found to be carrying more than five vape pods or 100 heat sticks in public will face a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and up to six months in jail, while those with smaller quantities will receive a fixed penalty of HK$3,000.
Some users of alternative tobacco products told the South China Morning Post that they would continue sourcing supplies through illicit channels and vape behind closed doors, with no intention of quitting.
Hong Kong’s overall smoking rate for those aged 15 and above was 8.5 per cent in 2025, while daily vape use stood below 1 per cent in 2023.
In the 2022-23 academic year, 1.1 per cent of secondary students and 0.5 per cent of Primary Four to Six pupils used e-cigarettes.
The new rules follow a 2022 citywide ban on the import, manufacture, sale, distribution and promotion of alternative tobacco products.
The amended law also provides for a future territory-wide ban – including private places – on these products, though no timetable has been set.

A Smoker’s Insight survey in April found that among 301 alternative tobacco users, 55 per cent intend to continue vaping discreetly, while 35 per cent plan to switch back to traditional cigarettes.
Only 10 per cent said they would – or would at least consider – kicking the habit.
“Users of alternative tobacco products will simply find other ways to get their supplies, pushing consumption underground. They’ll use them at home or in private spaces rather than on the street,” said Yeung Ho-chuen, a spokesperson for the concern group.
“It is unfair to blame them for corrupting the minors or leading them to use those products, given that only 1 per cent were smoking them.”
To truly encourage quitting tobacco products, authorities need to stop treating them like “villains” and rethink their approach to smoking cessation services, Yeung said.
“Quitting tobacco is just a change of lifestyle. It should not be framed as a huge, painful challenge … if you take a single puff when you are trying to quit, you should not be treated as a failure,” he said.
“Demonising smokers only makes them feel alienated, leading them to believe that they are incapable of quitting – these psychological barriers stem from the lack of empathy and respect towards them.”
He noted that the United Kingdom and New Zealand have integrated vaping into their public health strategies as a less harmful alternative, as it allows smokers to take just a single puff when a craving hits, rather than feeling forced to finish an entire cigarette.
But Henry Tong Sau-chai, chairman of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, said the new rules sent a “clear signal” about the dangers of alternative tobacco products.
“Some still regard e-cigarettes as a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes, which is a misconception, or a misleading claim. The new law is another chance to educate the public about this and encourage quitting,” he said.
With the import ban in place for four years, any legal personal supplies should be exhausted or expired by now, Tong added.
“We hope the government will soon implement the second stage of the possession ban, which covers both public and private areas, especially as vape devices have been used for illegal drugs in recent years,” he said.
He was also confident that the ban would not push smokers back to traditional cigarettes.
“The incentive for those smokers to switch back to traditional cigarettes would be limited with the multipronged approach of the tobacco control strategy, such as banning flavoured tobacco to reduce its appeal as well as the standardised packaging and duty stamp law, which should be passed at the Legislative Council soon.”
He also urged the authorities to step up campaigns to ensure that people were aware that purchasing these products online was also an offence.
* Name changed on request


‘No fundraising launched’ after father’s death, paralysed dancer Mo Li warns of scams

Will Hong Kong vapers go underground as public possession ban kicks in?

Hong Kong star vows to be ‘companion, not mentor’ to protesters arrested in 2019

Helper arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly putting 2 young boys in dog cage

Hong Kong society

From April 30, anyone found with more than five vape pods or 100 heat sticks in public will face a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and up to six months in jail, while those with smaller quantities will receive a fixed penalty of HK$3,000. Photo: Warton Li

Elio, a 22-year-old Hongkonger, says he will continue vaping in private. Photo: Warton Li

Hong Kong boosts e-cigarette ban awareness in mainland China before ‘golden week’

Hong Kong has stepped up outreach and enforcement as a ban on possessing e-cigarettes in public takes effect ahead of the Labour Day “golden week”. Photo:  Jonathan Wong

Authorities have extended no-smoking areas to within three metres of building entrances and exits, and at designated public transport boarding points. Photo: Karma Lo

Hong Kong to impose 2‑tier penalty for carrying vapes in public from April 30

Officers will conduct enforcement in plain clothes against the use of e-cigarettes in public. Photo: Nora Tam

(From left) Neil Chan, Dr Manny Lam and Dr Grace Wong at a press briefing. Photo: Emily Hung

Samples of alternative tobacco products shown by the government. Photo: Emily Hung

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Survey finds that among 301 alternative tobacco users, 55 per cent intend to continue vaping discreetly, while 35 per cent plan to switch back to traditional cigarettes


Survey finds that among 301 alternative tobacco users, 55 per cent intend to continue vaping discreetly, while 35 per cent plan to switch back to traditional cigarettes.


Smoking and vaping

New Zealand

Britain

Will Hong Kong vapers go underground as public possession ban kicks in?

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Survey finds that among 301 alternative tobacco users, 55 per cent intend to continue vaping discreetly, while 35 per cent plan to switch back to traditional cigarettes

Survey finds that among 301 alternative tobacco users, 55 per cent intend to continue vaping discreetly, while 35 per cent plan to switch back to traditional cigarettes