Hong Kong: Low mortality linked to low tobacco consumption

Hong Kong's low smoking prevalence has been the most important factor in their longevity, with the city topping the world's life expectancy rankings for the seventh year in a row, according to a new study. The city plans to continue its fight against smoking by regulating new tobacco and nicotine products.[1][2].

According to the World Bank, the life expectancy of men and women in Hong Kong is 82.7 years and 88.1 years respectively. To determine the reasons for the phenomenon, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong compared 263 million deaths in 21 countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Low prevalence of smoking and associated mortality

For women, smoking-related deaths have increased in high-income countries, but in contrast, the corresponding rate among Hong Kong women has remained stable over the past four decades, leading to a widening of the smoking-attributable mortality gap between Hong Kong and high-income countries.

Hong Kong's longevity is attributed to the lowest death rates from cardiovascular disease in both men and women, as well as one of the lowest death rates from cancer in women, two disease categories largely associated with tobacco use.

The Hong Kong government has committed to reducing smoking prevalence to 7.8% by 2025 as part of a strategic action plan to prevent and control non-communicable diseases. Achieving this goal will require ambitious measures not only to reduce cigarette consumption, but also to prevent the development of any new tobacco and nicotine products in the local market.

Towards a possible ban on heated tobacco and vaping products?

Among the measures under discussion, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government introduced the Tobacco Control Bill in February 2019, which aimed to ban the importation, manufacture, distribution, sale and advertising of novel tobacco and nicotine products such as heated/grilled tobacco products, e-cigarettes and herbal cigarettes. However, after more than 2 years, the bill is still under consideration. As of early September[4], the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, has announced its support for a complete ban on e-cigarettes and heated-toast tobacco products. The party's members, who hold the majority in the committee responsible for tobacco issues, could facilitate the passage of an amendment to ban all new tobacco products, which will most likely be passed during the current term of Hong Kong's Legislative Council.

Hong Kong has had success in banning emerging tobacco products in the past. In the early 1980s, the government introduced a law banning chewing tobacco when it first appeared in the territory.[5]. When not contained in tobacco, nicotine is regulated as a poison and nicotine-containing products (nicotine substitutes, e-cigarettes, etc.) must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before sale or distribution. Nicotine control has thus prevented emerging nicotine products (e.g. nicotine pouches) from entering the local market as consumer products.

Keywords: Hong Kong, New products, heated tobacco, vaping, nicotine, health

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[1] HK people live long because not much smoke: study, Radio Television HK, September 6, 2021, accessed September 8, 2021 [2] HongKongers live longest due to less smoking: HKU, The Standard, September 6, 2021, accessed September 8, 2021 [3] Press release, Government announces details on latest smoking situation in Hong Kong, June 8, 2020, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, accessed September 8, 2021 [4] Hong Kong to expect a complete ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, The Standard, September 2, 2021, accessed September 8, 2021 [5] V. Lai, H. Tong, LT Leung, SY Ho, TH Lam, Will heated tobacco products be banned in Hong Kong?, The Union, August 13, 2021, accessed September 8, 2021 National Committee Against Smoking |