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

Remarks by SHYA at media session

Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (April 11):

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, Photo by Bastille Post

Reporter: On the owners' petition regarding the Wang Fuk Court situation, could you give us the latest update and do we know how many cases were suspected to contain forged signatures?

Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs: Regarding the allegation of forged signatures, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) has already received several complaints from the residents. Some residents have even reported the case to the Police and the HAD has already referred the case to the law enforcement body and the statutory bodies for further investigation. I'm sure that the law enforcement body and the statutory bodies will carry out thorough investigation.

Reporter: You also mentioned the amendment of the Building Management Ordinance. You said that the Government is planning to hold a briefing before an annual meeting among the homeowners to let them have sufficient time to know more about the details. Could you elaborate more on this and the possibility of using technologies to encourage homeowners to participate in the owners' meeting? What are the Government's considerations?

Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs: We have introduced our five major directions in amending the Building Management Ordinance. One of the directions is to enhance the transparency and to let the owners have more information on the maintenance and repair works that will be carried out. In the current practice, owners' committees can organise or hold briefing sessions for the owners before the EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting) or AGM (Annual General Meeting) at their discretion. It's more voluntary. But from our experience, if there are briefing sessions held before the EGM or AGM, owners will have more information about the works that will be carried out, and that will encourage owners to attend the EGM or AGM, and to make sensible and reasonable decisions for their buildings. That's why one of our directions and proposals for amending the Building Management Ordinance is to require all the owners' committees to organise briefing sessions for owners before the EGM or AGM, so that owners will have more information and can make sensible and reasonable decisions at the EGM and AGM. Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Wang Fuk Court, Photo by Bastille Pos