Man Sentenced to Six-Month Imprisonment for Illegally Importing Alternative Smoking Products into Hong Kong

Another individual sentenced to imprisonment for illegally importing alternative smoking products

Following yesterday's (September 3) sentencing of a woman for illegally importing alternative smoking products, another man was sentenced today (September 4) to six months' imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts for the same offence. The Department of Health (DH) welcomed the verdict and reminded members of the public and visitors not to bring alternative smoking products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products or herbal cigarettes into Hong Kong, and not to use any alternative smoking products.

The West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, the West Kowloon Law Courts Building

The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the DH was notified by Hong Kong Customs on July 10 that 36 200 alternative smoking products had been intercepted in the luggage of the aforesaid man arriving from Japan. TACO immediately arrested and prosecuted the individual.

Since the amendments to theTobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, which conferred arrest powers on TACO inspectors,took effect on September 19, 2025, TACO has prosecuted 31 cases involving the importation of large quantities of alternative smoking products. Thirty-three persons have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from four weeks to eight months.

According to the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), a person who imports alternative smoking products, including electronic smoking products, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes, commits an offence and isliable on summary conviction to a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years; or liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371), no person may promote, manufacture, sell, or possess for commercial purposes alternative smoking products. An offender is liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

TACO will continue to closely monitor and rigorously enforce the law to combat related offences.

In addition, the DH also cautions the public that alternative smoking products are addictive, and are not effective smoking cessation or harm reduction tools. E-cigarettes may increase the risk of cancer, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Smokers are urged to quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. For assistance, please call the DH's Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183, or visit www.livetobaccofree.hk for information on smoking cessation.

The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office, Photo source: reference image

Company director sentenced to community service order for contravening Employment Ordinance

A director of Grace (Asia) Group Limited and CY Medical Aesthetics Limited was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violating the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The director was convicted earlier and was sentenced at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (September 4) to 120 hours' community service. The director was also ordered earlier to pay the employees concerned an outstanding total sum of about $93,000.

The companies wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirements of the EO, failing to pay three employees' wages within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of employment contracts, totalling about $93,000. The director concerned was prosecuted and convicted for her consent, connivance or neglect in the above offence.

"The ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO," a spokesman for the LD said.

"The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," the spokesman added.