The legal framework
Hong Kong prohibited the import, manufacture, sale and advertising of alternative smoking products including vapes and heated tobacco in 2022, while stopping short of banning personal use. Tobacco duty has been increased sharply in recent budgets, and smoking is prohibited in all indoor public places and many outdoor ones. Free quit services are provided.
Hong Kong banned the import, manufacture, sale and promotion of alternative smoking products — vapes and heated tobacco — from April 2022, and has raised tobacco duty sharply in successive budgets, by around thirty per cent in 2023 and again in 2024. Smoking is prohibited in all indoor public places and in many outdoor ones, including bus stops and public transport interchanges.
Key points
| Vapes | Import, sale and advertising prohibited since 2022 |
|---|---|
| Legal age | 18 for alcohol and tobacco |
| Duty | Increased sharply in recent budgets |
| No-smoking areas | All indoor public places and many outdoor areas |
| Fixed penalties | Issued for smoking in prohibited areas |
| Quit services | Free counselling, medication and a quitline |
| Illicit trade | A recognised consequence of higher duty |
In practice
- The integrated smoking cessation services are free and include medication.
- Bringing vapes into Hong Kong for sale is prohibited; personal import is also restricted.
- Fixed penalty notices for smoking in prohibited areas are issued routinely.
- Counselling by phone is available in several languages.
Cost and coverage
Cessation services and medication are free.
Recent changes
Tobacco duty rose steeply in the 2023 and 2024 budgets, and the government has consulted on further measures including extending no-smoking areas and tackling possession of alternative smoking products.
Where to go
- Integrated smoking cessation services of the Department of Health.
- Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office.
- Hospital Authority smoking cessation clinics.
Worth knowing
The ban covers import and sale rather than personal use, a distinction that travellers routinely misunderstand at the border.
Frequently asked questions
Can you bring a vape into Hong Kong?
No. Import is prohibited, including for personal use, and devices are seized at the border. Sale and promotion are also offences. The ban has been in force since April 2022 and is enforced at customs.
Where is smoking banned in Hong Kong?
All indoor public places and workplaces, public transport, and a growing list of outdoor areas including bus stops, transport interchanges, beaches, public swimming pools and parks. Fixed penalties are issued on the spot.
Official sources and links
- GovHK — official government portal