Lawmaker urges gov't to think twice on stringent tobacco ban

The government's stringent tobacco control measures, which will start barring the possession of e-cigarettes starting late-April next year, might drive tourists away from Hong Kong, lawmaker Peter Shiu Ka-fai said.

Speaking on a radio program on Monday, Shiu, chairman of the Liberal Party, said he agreed with the general direction of the government's anti-tobacco measures, but called on the government to reconsider.

"The measure might prompt some smoking tourists think twice about coming to Hong Kong," Shiu said.

The government also has not barred travelers from bringing flavored cigarettes, which is banned in the city under the government's latest tobacco control measures, into Hong Kong, according to Shiu.

"This might make the illicit cigarette market thrive, therefore I think the measure has to be studied further," he added.

Echoing him was Ben Leung Lap-yan, charter president of the Licensed Bar and Club Association of Hong Kong, said shisha usually attracts 60 to 70 percent of customers for outdoor bars.

He warned that a ban on shisha would drive customers away, therefore "reducing entertainment options for tourists and diminishing the vibrancy of the city's nightlife."

Health officials will meet with tourism industry leaders to discuss their proposed anti-smoking measures, including a ban of e-cigarettes, amid concerns that they would discourage tourists from visiting Hong Kong.

The bar trade lamented at the proposed ban on the sale of shisha and flavored tobacco products, expressing worries that this could issue a "destructive" blow at the nightlife industry that is already battling with increased consumption across the border.

In response, Deputy Secretary for Health Eddie Lee Lik-kong said the 10 tobacco control measures proposed by the government would have a very small impact on the economy.

"For business travellers, to be frank, they are looking for business opportunities and whether they can do business and make money. As for leisure travellers, they look at the overall experience in Hong Kong," Lee said.

"For example, recently we had famous singers holding concerts, and many visitors came for this. But they were only considering the overall experience, rather than whether they can smoke in Hong Kong or what the SAR's anti-smoking measures are."

Lee said this week he will meet with mainland inbound tour groups and the hotel industry to carry out promotional and explanatory work for the tourism sector.