Secretary for Health said e-cigarettes are "sugar-coated poison”

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said e-cigarettes are extremely harmful, describing them as "sugar-coated poison," and that it is necessary to ban alternative smoking products.

He added that tobacco control efforts will continue to be strengthened.

The latest data from the Census and Statistics Department shows that Hong Kong's smoking rate has dropped to 8.5%, the lowest on record.

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said that the number of smokers and the average number of cigarettes smoked per person in Hong Kong have both seen significant declines.

The government banned the possession of alternative smoking products in public places last month. He pointed out that about 70% of young people who try smoking for the first time use flavoured e-cigarettes or traditional cigarettes, making a ban necessary.

Lo said: “Some e-cigarettes look like toys—greenish-blue, a pretty orange, made of plastic, the whole shape is like a toy. I believe young children would pick them up and play with them because they're so attractive. Secondly, they smell very nice, with fruit flavors like strawberry, apple, and orange.

Sugar-coated poison is the most apt description.”

The government will implement standardised cigarette packaging and add duty-paid cigarette labels to combat smuggled cigarettes by the end of next year. After that, flavoured cigarettes will be dealt with.