Health chief confirms Hong Kong tobacco ban for younger generation to lower smoking rate

The health minister confirmed today that the government is considering banning the purchase of tobacco for people born in 2009 or later, aiming to further lower the smoking rate in the city.  

In a conference focusing on smoking control on Tuesday morning, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau suggested that people born in or after 2009 will be designated as the "smoke-free generation," following examples of countries like New Zealand, which means people aged 18 or above would be banned from buying cigarettes for life by 2027.  

"It is aiming to lower the smoking rate of Hong Kong to 7.8 percent or below," he said.  

He added the authority will launch a series of statutory measures, including raising the tobacco tax, banning advertising of tobacco products, and moving forward with legislation on outlawing electronic cigarettes.  

"Besides, we will conduct public consultations in the next step for reviewing the smoking-control policy," Lo noted.  

The health chief’s speech came after Henry Tong Sau-chai, chairperson of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, revealed last week that the government is mulling a ban on cigarette sales for further generations.  

As of 2021, the smoking rate in Hong Kong was recorded as 9.5 percent, making the first time since the 1980s for the figure to reach a single digit.