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Prohibited e-cigarette draft dystocia Liberal Party "rab" successful government: must consider the next term

2020-06-03T15:26:41.266Z


The Government introduced the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2019 a year ago to study the ban on the sale of alternative tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes, heated cigarettes and herbal tobacco, which caused a strong backlash among "smokers". "Fabric" opposed. The Chairman of the Bills Committee Guo Weiqiang sent a letter to the members earlier, saying that considering that the committee still has many meetings, and some members have proposed a large number of amendments, it is unrealistic to complete the deliberations before the July recess, and whether the advisory committee should continue the deliberations. The Bills Committee met again today (2nd). With the approval of four members of the Liberal Party, People's Power Chen Zhiquan and others, it decided to suspend the operation of the committee, which means that the draft ban on e-cigarettes is officially difficult to produce. The government responded that it would definitely consider resubmitting the bill in the new session.


Political situation

Written by: Zhou Lixi

2020-06-02 18:47

Last update date: 2020-06-02 19:09

The Government introduced the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2019 a year ago to study the ban on the sale of alternative tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes, heated cigarettes and herbal tobacco, which caused a strong backlash among "smokers". "Fabric" opposed. The Chairman of the Bills Committee Guo Weiqiang sent a letter to the members earlier, saying that considering that the committee still has many meetings, and some members have proposed a large number of amendments, it is unrealistic to complete the deliberations before the July recess, and whether the advisory committee should continue the deliberations.

The Bills Committee met again today (2nd). With the approval of four members of the Liberal Party, People's Power Chen Zhiquan and others, it decided to suspend the operation of the committee, which means that the draft ban on e-cigarettes is officially difficult to produce. The government responded that it would definitely consider resubmitting the bill in the new session.

Guo Weiqiang suggested that the Bills Committee should suspend the consideration of the "Bills" and report to the House Committee on the decision to suspend the work. (Photo/Photo by Lu Yiming)

The Bills Committee originally planned to "drive fast" to consider the Bill. However, Chairman Guo Weiqiang said last month that, according to the replies of the members, the Bills Committee can hold as many meetings as possible in May and June. There are gaps in the goals for completing the review. He then consulted members and suggested that the Bills Committee should suspend the consideration of the bill. In the end, a total of 25 members were invited to reply. Among them, 11 members agreed with the proposed work direction and 14 members did not agree.

The committee met again today, Guo Weiqiang said at the beginning that at the meeting on May 4 it was concluded that an additional meeting was required to complete the deliberations, but many members said that they did not have time to attend the additional meeting, only 8 people all 9 additional meetings Can attend.

Members have different opinions on whether to follow the original procedures in today's meeting. Shao Jiahui, a member of the Liberal Party’s retail industry, pointed out that since this is the last meeting, it should be dismissed after listening to the opinions of the members. Why not go into the work of reviewing the provisions one by one to avoid wasting time.

The Civic Party Tan Wenhao believes that the review should be carried out normally according to the original work process. Chen Peiran of the medical profession pointed out that it was only the beginning of June and had not held a meeting because of the epidemic situation before.

The Legislative Council Bills Committee intends to suspend consideration of the ban on e-cigarette bills. (Profile picture/Photo by Luo Guohui)

The Legislative Council may stop the ban on e-cigarette legislation, the Smoking and Health Committee is disappointed, and the smoking rate rebounds

The Legislative Council intends to suspend consideration of the ban on e-cigarette bills

Prohibition of e-cigarette draft dystocia bill committee plans to suspend meeting

Zhang Chaoxiong approves the establishment system "death" bill

Shao Jiahui said that there have been very few people who have spoken at the meeting all the time. He also pointed out that the meeting has been delayed until June. He questioned that the meeting was often unattended. "I have to sit in the sun after the opening. It really blows up."

Guo Weiqiang finally stated that whether or not the Canadian Council will be made is not a decision that can be made today. If a report is to be submitted in mid-June, it is basically a daily meeting. It is impossible to emphasize that today is the last meeting of the Bill.

The Labor Party Zhang Chaoxiong accused the bill of being "drawn to death" by the formed faction, questioned the "National Anthem Act" and "one site and two inspections" both completed the work of the Bills Committee within a short period of time. I believe that if the government has the determination to do so. He hoped that the legislation would be completed as soon as possible so as not to affect young people with electronic cigarettes and heated cigarettes.

Guo Weiqiang pointed out that he had judged that he could not complete the deliberations, so it was up to the lawmakers to decide whether to agree to stop the work of the bill. Under a secret ballot, 8 members agreed to terminate the meeting, including the Liberal Party Yi Zhiming, Zhong Guobin, Shao Jiahui and Zhang Yuren, the DAB Huang Dingguang, the Federation of Trade Unions Mai Meijuan, the People’s Power Chen Zhiquan and the passionate citizen Zheng Songtai; the opponents include the Democrats Liang Jichang, Zhang Chaoxiong, Chen Peiran from the medical profession and Liu Yeqiang from the Pakatan Rakyat opposed; He Junyao abstained.

Food and Drug Administration: the bill will be revisited

Near the end of the meeting, Guo Weiqiang allowed members to continue asking questions to the government. Chen Peiran asked what the government would do next. Ruan Huixian, deputy secretary general of the Food and Health Bureau, responded that he would definitely consider reintroducing the bill in the new term of the Legislative Council, because the work cannot be completed during the current Legislative Council session and needs to be evaluated and adjusted.

Shao Jiahui reminded the Bureau that during the entire legislative process, many people wanted to regulate heating cigarettes and ban e-cigarettes. He criticized the authorities' approach as "it should be prohibited," and suggested that the next Legislative Council should resubmit the bill as soon as possible, separate heating cigarettes from electronic cigarettes, regulate heating cigarettes, and prohibit electronic cigarettes.

Chen Zhiquan pointed out that everyone already knows that the Bills Committee has today's results, and hopes that the Government can learn the lessons.

Shao Jiahui, Liberal Party of the Electronic Cigarette Legislative Council

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2020-06-03

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