The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government proposed 10 new short-term tobacco-control measures on Thursday, including a ban on electronic cigarettes, flavored cigarettes and smoking while waiting in line, in an attempt to continue reducing the rate of smoking.

Citing a recent thematic household report, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said the ratio of people aged 15 and above with a daily smoking habit dropped from 9.5 percent in 2021 to 9.1 percent last year, indicating progress in tobacco controls supported by the collective efforts of the public and the medical sector.

Hong Kong banned the import, selling, producing of e-cigarettes as well as possessing them for commercial purposes since April 30, 2022, but keeping e-cigarettes for self-use is not included in that legislation

However, the city’s 580,000 smokers — over half of whom are aged 40 to 59 — are placing heavy pressure on the healthcare system and threatening the health of nonsmokers, prompting the SAR government to introduce harsher measures to mitigate the influence of tobacco, Lo said.

READ MORE: Lo: Smoking prevalence in HK at all-time low of about 9.1%

With its proposed new measures, the government is seeking a ban on flavored cigarettes and alternative smoking products — including e-cigarettes — to control smoking from the supply side.

According to Schedule 7 of the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance, alternative smoking products refer to smoking devices where there is no need to light up tobacco as well as cigarettes with special substances.

Hong Kong banned the import, selling, producing of e-cigarettes as well as possessing them for commercial purposes since April 30, 2022, but keeping e-cigarettes for self-use is not included in that legislation.

The government also plans to introduce a label to distinguish between duty-paid and duty-not-paid cigarettes and to raise penalties for untaxed cigarettes to deter smuggling.

As for the act of smoking while walking, dubbed as “locomotive”, Lee said the government has not decided to ban the behavior given the challenges in enforcement, but will take reference from the laws being implemented overseas

Other proposed measures include prohibiting smoking while waiting in line in public areas, expanding nonsmoking areas, and strengthening services to help people quit smoking.

Eddie Lee Lik-kong, the deputy secretary for health, said the government will strengthen law enforcement on the illicit procession of smoking alternatives and selling cigarettes to consumers younger than 18 years old.

READ MORE: E-cigarettes are not the solution to the tobacco pandemic

As for the act of smoking while walking, dubbed as “locomotive”, Lee said the government has not decided to ban the behavior given the challenges in enforcement, but will take reference from the laws being implemented overseas.

The government hopes to table the amendments to the legislature by the end of this year and implement the new measures in 2025.

The authorities will evaluate the effectiveness of the short-term measures before adopting further measures to build a smokeless Hong Kong, the officials said.