The Government today (September 19) gazetted the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 to implement the new phase of tobacco control measures formulated by the Health Bureau (HHB).

     The primary focus of the new phase of tobacco control measures is to combat illicit cigarettes and prevent the new generation from smoking. The following measures have come into immediate effect:
 

• Raise the maximum penalty for relevant offences relating to duty-not-paid tobacco from a $1 million fine and two-year imprisonment to a $2 million fine and seven-year imprisonment;
• List the relevant offences under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance to enable the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) to freeze assets associated with illicit tobacco activities;
• Increase the penalty for offences of failing to declare to Customs Officers compoundable under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance from $2,000 to $5,000;
• Require that cigarettes sold at a price lower than the tobacco duty be proved to be duty-paid; and
• Prohibit the provision of alternative smoking products and conventional smoking products to persons aged below 18. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment, and a fine of $25,000 (liable to a fixed penalty of $3,000 if the conventional smoking products concerned are below the specified quantity) respectively upon conviction.

     For combating illicit cigarettes, the C&ED will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach and take stringent enforcement actions on all fronts to combat the sale of illicit cigarettes. The C&ED is making preparations at full steam for the implementation of the duty stamp system, which enables frontline officers, the industry, as well as the general public to more effectively distinguish between duty-paid and duty-not-paid cigarettes and combats "cheap-whites" on the market. A pilot scheme, expected to be rolled out in early October, will enable the C&ED to inspect the entire process from the production of cigarettes, their storage in bonded warehouses to their rollout on the market after duty payment. The first phase of the duty stamp system will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2026, with full implementation targeted for the second quarter of 2027.

     The C&ED has strengthened publicity for arriving passengers at sea, land and air control points. These measures include displaying new large-sized posters and presenting information on monthly statistics on the number of cases involving seizure of excessive tobacco and relevant penalties, aiming to remind passengers of the duty-free concession limit on cigarettes that they can bring into Hong Kong and the new penalties for offences related to illicit cigarettes. In addition, the C&ED, together with District Council members, has recently conducted inter-departmental anti-illicit cigarette publicity activities across various districts in Hong Kong, and will conduct publicity on television, radio, newspapers, and social media to raise citizens' law-abiding awareness.

     Moreover, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health will formulate implementation guidelines and inter-departmental collaboration and liaison mechanisms for the relevant new offences under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance to ensure a smoother law enforcement process. The TACO has also briefed representatives from the education sector on the latest tobacco control measures that are targeted at preventing the new generation from smoking, and exchanged views on the implementation of the relevant measures. Apart from law enforcement, the TACO will also conduct publicity for the new measures on television, radio and social media, and will continue to promote smoking prevention and cessation services, including conducting smoke-free publicity and education in the community to raise the public awareness on smoking hazards.

     The timeline for implementing the new phase of tobacco control measures is set out at Annex. For the latest information about the various tobacco control measures, members of the public may also visit the C&ED and TACO webpages.

     A spokesperson for the HHB said, "Smoking is the most important but preventable risk factor leading to death and disease. The Government is determined to further reduce the smoking prevalence of Hong Kong and minimise the impact of second-hand smoke on the public. The gazettal of the Amendment Ordinance to implement the new phase of tobacco control measures today symbolises the determination of the entire society to take forward tobacco control and safeguard public health."

     The Government will continue to take forward tobacco control process in a progressive and multi-pronged approach, strengthen the work on promotion, education and smoking cessation, as well as explore various tobacco control measures in the medium and long term to eliminate the social hazards posed by tobacco products in all aspects and move towards a tobacco-free Hong Kong.

Ends/Friday, September 19, 2025
Issued at HKT 10:35

NNNN