Govt Broke Pledge On E-cigarette Ban: Adviser

A government adviser on smoking said on Monday that the administration has gone back on its word by not imposing a ban on e-cigarettes.

Officials plan to regulate e-cigarettes, just like they do traditional tobacco products, rather than outlaw them completely.

But the chairman of the Council on Smoking and Health, Antonio Kwong, said that three years ago, the government had accepted its proposal for a complete ban on e-cigarettes.

On an RTHK programme, he said he was disappointed by the regulation plan which he described as a step backwards.

Kwong said he is very concerned that the use of e-cigarettes will lead to more people taking up smoking traditional products, especially young people.

Last week, the Medical Association, the Doctors Union and the Dental Association also said they were disappointed by the government's position on e-cigarettes.