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Low smoking prevalence has been cited as the reason behind Hongkongers living the longest lives in the world, HKU researchers have found.

For the seventh year, Hong Kong has attained the world's highest life expectancy. According to World Bank, the life expectancy for men and women in Hong Kong stand at 82.7 years and 88.1 years respectively.

To determine the reasons behind the phenomenon, the University of Hong Kong's medical school has conducted its largest ever assessment by comparing 263 million deaths from Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and 18 countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

For the first time, they found that Hong Kong's longevity is attributed to the lowest mortality rate for cardiovascular diseases in both men and women, as well as one of the lowest mortalities rates of cancer among women.

The achievement is underpinned by Hong Kong's attainment of one of the world's lowest smoking prevalence, resulting in lowest death rate attributed to smoking in the high-income regions surveyed.

The low smoking prevalence was the single most important reason for Hong Kong's longevity, the researchers said.

They called on the Legislative Council to pass a complete ban on electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Allowing such products into Hong Kong will lead to a surge in the young smoking population, leading to more sickness and deaths.

The study will be published in the journal The Lancet Public Health.

HongKongers live longest due to less smoking: HKU