New Tobacco Control Laws: No Smoking Areas Expanded, Penalties Increased Starting January 1, 2026

DH reminds public that new phase of tobacco control measures to take effect on January 1, 2026

The Department of Health (DH) today (December 29) reminded the public that three amendments relating to smoking offences under the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (the Amendment Ordinance) will take effect on Thursday (January 1, 2026):

• extension of statutory No Smoking Areas (NSAs) to public places that lie within three metres outside the entrances/exits exclusively used for child care centres, residential care homes, schools, hospitals and specified clinics or health centres;

• prohibition of smoking while queuing (including queuing to board a public transport carrier at a designated boarding location, staying in the delineated area for a designated boarding location, while queuing to enter specified premises (see Annex), or while queuing within specified premises); and

• increase of the fixed penalty for smoking offences from $1,500 to $3,000.

The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors of the DH will prosecute any person who does a smoking act in NSAs without prior warning. Offenders will be liable to a fixed penalty of $3,000.

The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) has prepared FAQs, pamphlets and other resources to help the public comply with the new law. Members of the public may visit the TACO website for more detailed information. To ensure smooth implementation of the new measures, TACO has enhanced publicity and education efforts over the past few months, such as Announcements in the Public Interest on TV and radio; advertisements on public transport areas at bus stops and at MTR stations; enhanced social media promotion; and the production of guidelines to educate the public. For visitors, TACO has stepped up anti-smoking promotions at all boundary control points, major tourist attractions and bus stops, including distributing leaflets in major tourist spots in collaboration with district councillors and has created an infographic "Visitors' Guide" to enhance visitors' understanding of the new measures. TACO is also promoting to visitors through Chinese Mainland social media.

TACO has also issued implementation guidelines and enhanced interdepartmental co-ordination mechanisms for the new offences under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance to ensure smoother enforcement. Briefings have been held for venue managers to explain the details of the amendment and their enforcement. Beyond enforcement, TACO continues to promote smoking prevention and cessation services, including conducting smoke-free publicity and education in the community to raise public awareness of smoking hazards.

The new phase of tobacco control measures will be implemented in phases. Among them, the increased penalties for illicit cigarettes and the prohibition on provision of smoking products to persons under the age of 18 have already taken effect upon the gazettal of the Amendment Ordinance(September 19, 2025). The provision prohibiting the possession of alternative smoking product (ASP) substances (e.g. e-cigarette liquids/cartridges/ and heat sticks) in public places will take effect on April 30, 2026, i.e. four years after the implementation of the ban on the importation and sale of ASPs. TACO will continue to strengthen publicity, education, etc, in the future to ensure the effective implementation of the relevant tobacco control measures.

For the health of individuals, families and the community, the Government urges smokers to quit smoking as soon as possible. Members of the public may call the Department of Health Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline at 1833 183. The hotline is answered by registered nurses who provide professional counselling and referral to a wide range of free smoking cessation services.

DH reminds public that new phase of tobacco control measures to take effect on January 1, 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH reminds public that new phase of tobacco control measures to take effect on January 1, 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH reminds public that new phase of tobacco control measures to take effect on January 1, 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Additional batch of Approval Letters to be issued to successful applicants under White Form Secondary Market Scheme 2024

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:

Following the issuance of a batch of Approval and Confirmation Letters in October 2025 to successful applicants who have passed detailed vetting of their eligibility under the White Form Secondary Market (WSM) Scheme 2024 (WSM 2024), the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) will issue an additional batch of Approval and Confirmation Letters tomorrow (December 30).

"The HA's Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) endorsed in November 2025 a series of measures that encourage upward mobility through the housing ladder, which include, amongst others, enhancing the arrangements of the WSM. We noted that some successful applicants under the WSM 2024 awarded with a quota in October 2025 did not apply for the Certificate of Eligibility to Purchase (CEP) within the specified six-week period for purchasing a subsidised sale flats (SSF) with premium unpaid in the secondary market. To ensure full utilisation of WSM 2024 quotas, we will issue an additional batch of Approval Letters to successful applicants according to the ballot order to cover unused quotas. Moreover, any unused family quotas will be allocated to one-person applicants, which is consistent with the practice adopted for the primary SSF sale exercise," a spokesman for the HA said.

Each successful applicant will be issued with one Approval Letter and two Confirmation Letters. The two Confirmation Letters are applicable to the HA's Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Secondary Market and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS)'s Flat-for-Sale Scheme (FFSS) Secondary Market respectively. Within six weeks from the date of issuance, holders of Approval Letters may submit the Confirmation Letters to the HA and/or the HKHS respectively for application for the CEP to purchase a flat with the premium not yet paid in the HA's HOS Secondary Market or the HKHS's FFSS Secondary Market.

The CEP is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance, and no extension will be granted upon its expiry. To complete the transaction, holders of the CEP need to apply for a Letter of Nomination from the HA or the HKHS after they have entered into a Provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase (PASP). The applicant and the family member(s) named in the application form must meet the eligibility criteria of the WSM 2024 from the date of application submission up to the date of signing the PASP. Moreover, the SSF shall be occupied by the owner and all family members named in the Application Form for the purchase of the flat.

The list of successful applications will be uploaded tomorrow to the website for the WSM 2024 (www.housingauthority.gov.hk/wsm/2024).

The SHC endorsed in January 2025 that the quota for the WSM 2024 will increase significantly by 1500 to 6000. All of the 1500 additional quotas will be allocated to young applicants aged below 40 under the Youth Scheme (WSM) in order to encourage young people to move up the housing ladder. Among the applications received, over 80 per cent came from young applicants opting to join the newly implemented Youth Scheme (WSM), demonstrating that the scheme is well received by young applicants.

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