DH Reminds Public That New Phase of Tobacco Control Measures to Take Effect on January 1, 2026
The Department of Health reminded everyone that three new changes to smoking rules under the updated law (Tobacco Control Legislation Amendment Ordinance 2025) will start on Thursday (January 1, 2026):
- No-smoking zones will now include areas within 3 metres outside the entrances or exits that are only used for child care centres, homes for the elderly, schools, hospitals, and specified clinics or health centres.
- Smoking is banned while waiting in any queue. This includes queues for public transport (at bus stops or boarding areas), queues to enter certain places (see list in Annex), or queues inside those places.
- The fixed fine for smoking offences will double from $1,500 to $3,000.
Health inspectors will issue fines directly without warning to anyone caught smoking in no-smoking areas. Offenders must pay a fixed penalty of $3,000.
The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) has created FAQs, leaflets, and other materials to help people follow the new smoking rules.
You can visit the TACO website for more details.
To help the new rules start smoothly, TACO has increased public education in recent months by:
- airing public service announcements on TV and radio;
- placing ads at bus stops, on public transport, and in MTR stations;
- posting more on social media;
- producing easy-to-understand guidelines for the public.
For tourists and visitors, TACO has increased anti-smoking messages at all border crossings, major tourist spots, and bus stops. They have handed out leaflets in popular tourist areas (working with district councillors) and made a simple infographic called “Visitors’ Guide” to explain the new rules.
TACO is also reaching visitors through social media platforms on the Chinese Mainland.
TACO has also created guidelines for putting the new rules into action and improved coordination between government departments for the new smoking offences under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance. This will help make enforcement easier and more effective.
The new tobacco control rules are being introduced step by step.
Another part will start on April 30, 2026: a ban on possessing alternative smoking product (ASP) items (such as e-cigarette liquids, cartridges, or heat sticks) in public places. This is four years after the ban on importing and selling ASPs began.
TACO will keep increasing publicity, education, and other efforts in the future to make sure these tobacco control measures work well.
