Notice! Passengers who bring 20 cigarettes to Hong Kong will be fined 5,000 yuan!

(Hong Kong, 26th) In order to further reduce the smoking rate and protect public health, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government published the "Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2025" (the "Bill") in the Gazette on Friday, and will submit it to the Legislative Council for first and second readings on April 30 (Wednesday).

The draft bill proposes that from January next year, if anyone brings more than 19 duty-free cigarettes into the country, the fixed fine will be increased from HK$2,000 to HK$5,000 (approximately RM1,127 to RM2,818). At the same time, tax-paid cigarette identification labels will be added, penalties for smuggling contraband cigarettes will be increased, no-smoking areas will be expanded, and possession of alternative smoking products will be prohibited.

The draft regulations state that from January next year, smoking will be prohibited in designated areas where people wait for public transportation, or when people wait to enter cinemas, hospitals, public playgrounds, stadiums, etc. The word "queue" indicates a situation where two or more people are waiting in line. The fine for violators has doubled from HK$1,500 to HK$3,000 (approximately RM845 to RM1,691).

The draft bill proposes to designate the area within 3 metres of the entrances and exits of child care centres, hospitals, Department of Health clinics or health centres and institutions as a no-smoking zone.