HK Must Ban E-cigarettes This Year, Say Headteachers

Ten headteacher associations and school councils on Monday urged Legco to pass a bill that has been in the pipeline for two years to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

Government figures last year showed less than one percent of primary and secondary students were using alternative tobacco products, but the education bodies say there is an increasing usage among teenagers.

Lai Miu-yee from the Association of Principals of Government Secondary Schools said businesspeople are using social media to promote their products, and more students have taken up vapes or heated tobacco products.

"[Businesspeople] may hire internet celebrities to share reviews [of the products], and may even do student offers, to induce youngsters to try them," Lai said.

The principals said the fruity flavours of some vapes may also have led young people into thinking they are nicotine-free and non-addictive.

They said it is important for Legco to pass the government bill before more students take up vaping.

"If the bill really cannot be passed within this Legco year, the impact definitely will be huge. More young people will at least [have] a chance to try this kind of product," said Dion Chen, who chairs the Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council.

He added that they are opposed to the idea of regulating heated tobacco products instead of banning them.

"It really adversely affects the health of young people, and [if] there is a chance for the young people to use it, we should stop it as soon as possible," he said.