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

2026-09-04 15:40 Last Updated At：16:11

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 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.

CAS Hosts Mountaineering Safety Day to Empower Youth and Enhance Community Emergency Preparedness

"Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day and Emergency Response Experience Day 2026: Empowering Young People to Safeguard Our Community" held

The Civil Aid Service (CAS) held the "Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day and Emergency Response Experience Day 2026: Empowering Young People to Safeguard Our Community" together with various government departments and mountaineering organisations today (October 25) at the Sha Tsui Road Playground, Tsuen Wan. The event aimed to promote mountain safety and emergency knowledge and skills to the public, with a view to reducing mountain accidents and jointly safeguarding the community.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner of the CAS, Mr Victor Pang, thanked the various government departments and mountaineering organisations for their participation. He said that, under the co-ordination of the Security Bureau (SB), this event had added a "Discipline and Auxiliary Forces Youth Groups Zone". All eight services under the SB, along with their youth uniformed groups, had set up creative booths and interactive games to help the public learn about HongKong's emergency rescue system and the related work of each service.

He said that the CAS's activity aligns with the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030), encouraging the younger generation to get involved, to use technology and innovative thinking to raise awareness of hiking safety and community emergency response, and, through handson participation, to further broaden their horizons. Moreover, Mr Pang presented certificates of completion to those who had finished the Mountain Casualty Handling Course as well as the Hiking Safety and Mountain Rescue Course in the opening ceremony.

The Chief Staff Officer of the CAS, Mr Leung Kwun-hong, said that in mountain rescue operations, the CAS has consistently worked side by side with various government departments. For example, in August this year, the CAS joined forces with the Hong Kong Police Force, the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Government Flying Service (GFS) in a joint rescue operation, ultimately locating a woman who had been missing for more than a week at Lei Yue Mun and transporting her to hospital for treatment. This operation fully demonstrated the professional spirit of never giving up and the selfless dedication of all departments.

Mr Leung said that, to improve the efficiency of the CAS's mountain rescue work and continuously optimise its procedures, the CAS has been actively employing drones in daily tasks and operations. Under the Low-altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox projects, the CAS will pilot the use of drones for patrols, hill fire detection, and the delivery of mountain-area equipment or emergency supplies such as automated external defibrillators. This initiative will enable rescuers to seize the golden hour more effectively.

Other attending guests included the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming; Deputy Secretary for Security Mr Howard Yam; the Controller of the GFS, Mr Eddie Liu; the Divisional Commander (New Territories South) of the FSD, Mr Ho Chun-pong; as well as representatives from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Office of the Communications Authority, the Hong Kong Observatory, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Auxiliary Medical Service, the Lands Department and various mountaineering organisations.

The Promotion Day featured game booths, displays of various types of mountain activity equipment, and, for the first time, eight booths set up by young people to promote hiking safety and introduce the emergency work of the various services and their youth uniformed groups, thereby raising public awareness of mountain safety and community emergency preparedness.

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

HK

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

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