Hong Kong to jail, fine those possessing, using vapes in public from April 2026

Possessing or vaping with alternative smoking products such as e-cigarettes in public will be considered an offence in Hong Kong starting from April 30 next year, with offenders facing a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and a HK$50,000 (US$6,400) fine.

According to an amended bill gazetted by the government on Friday, smoking of such products will also not be allowed from next year when queuing to enter certain places, including cinemas, sports and arts facilities, health clinics, and spaces for queuing to board public transport. Offenders will be fined a fixed penalty of HK$3,000.

“The lower income group is particularly vulnerable to the health and economic damage brought about by smoking, which could exacerbate the health or economic disparity between the rich and the poor,” the Health Bureau wrote in a paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Friday.

“The healthcare system and society as a whole would also have to pay a heavy price for smoking-related diseases in terms of healthcare costs and economic losses.”

The government said it would not implement a ban on possessing devices used for smoking heated tobacco such as e-cigarettes at this stage.

The spokesman explained that they had heard feedback that some people might possess smoking devices as collectibles, so authorities would have to consider whether to implement the ban based on the actual use of such devices in the future.