The Government hopes to reduce the smoking rate in recent years. According to data provided by the Food and Health Bureau in response to Members' written questions, Customs seized a total of 427 million illicit cigarettes last year, doubling the number year-on-year, involving 4,008 cases.
Customs said earlier that the seizure was larger than any one-year seizure in the past 20 years.
In addition, the authorities said they will review the tobacco tax rate in due course.
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Chen Xuefeng, a member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, is concerned that the government will ban the import, manufacture, sale, distribution and promotion of smoking products such as e-cigarettes and heated cigarettes from this Saturday (30th). Young people, will they switch to traditional cigarettes?
The Secretary for Food and Health, Chen Zhaoshi, said in a written reply that according to previous surveys, alternative smoking products are more popular among younger age groups, and will focus on helping people who currently use e-cigarettes and heated cigarettes to quit smoking, and review relevant data. Especially the behavior and trend of young people smoking various smoking products, so as to adjust the tobacco control policy in time.
Illicit cigarette seizures double year-on-year to record high
According to figures provided by the authorities, a total of 4,008 illicit cigarette cases were detected in 2021, a total of 427 million illicit cigarettes were seized, and 3,553 people were arrested, 59 of whom were under the age of 21.
The number of illicit cigarette seizures more than doubled compared to 2020; however, the number of cases was only about a quarter of 2019.
Customs said earlier that the number of illicit cigarette seizures in 2021 is higher than that of any single year in the past 20 years.
Quantity of illicit cigarettes seized by customs in the past three years (Legislative Council paper)
Chen Zhaoshi said that he will comprehensively review the current tobacco control policy, expand the scope of no-smoking areas in Hong Kong, and consider raising tobacco taxes from time to time.
She also pointed out that she will actively carry out the work towards the end of tobacco, launch a comprehensive tobacco control strategy, and formulate a timetable and roadmap for the end of tobacco.
Electronic cigarettes｜The concern group is concerned about turning to the black market after the ban on sales The Committee on Smoking and Health advocates doubling the tobacco tax After that, the comprehensive smoking ban program was launched, advocating double the tobacco tax and tobacco tax | The Smoking and Health Committee sent a letter to Chen Maobo to urge the budget to increase taxes on an annual basis and completely ban smoking | The government aims to reduce the smoking rate to 7.8% by 2025, requiring about 200,000 people to quit smoking
