Lawmakers urged to cool it on e-cigarette bill

A Legislative Council bills committee should stop scrutinizing a bill banning the sale of electronic cigarettes, as it is unlikely to complete discussions within the current legislative year ending July, its chairman, Kwok Wai-keung, said.

In a letter to fellow lawmakers, Kwok said it would be "unrealistic" to expect the committee to finish its work by July, since another 10 meetings are needed to go over the bill, as members have indicated they are planning amendments.

He called for support for his plan, as the committee has yet to start scrutinizing the bill clause by clause.

If the bill, gazetted last February, fails to pass before the current Legco session adjourns in July, the government will have to go through the legislative process again after the September election.

The Liberal Party's Tommy Cheung Yu-yan welcomed the proposal, stressing time is not enough to process the amendments lawmakers plan to submit.

Liberal Party and People Power lawmakers have criticized the bill, saying it would not punish smoking, while others blamed officials for evading the problem of the more widely consumed traditional cigarettes.

But the education sector's Ip Kin-yuen said the committee could finish its work if it organizes more meetings.He also questioned whether Kwok and the government lack the determination to pass the legislation.

If passed, the bill would prohibit the import, manufacture, sale, distribution and advertisement of new smoking products, including e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn devices and herbal cigarettes in Hong Kong.