Press Releases

The Government announced today (July 14) that new health warning requirements on tobacco products would come into operation this Sunday (July 16).

A spokesman for the Health and Welfare Bureau said, "Under the new requirements, the quantitative amounts of tar and nicotine yield are required to be borne on the package of cigarette products. It is also required that the health warning be printed on the top of cigarette packages in black colour against white background so as to create greater visual impact on purchasers."

Details are set out in paragraph 3 of the Smoking (Public Health) (Notices) Order, the subsidiary legislation of the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance, in respect of the new prescribed form and manner of health warning for cigarette products.

Paragraph 4A of the Order also requires more stringent health warning be borne on cigar products. This includes the requirement that the size shall be at least 20 per cent of the surface area on which the health warning appears.

The spokesman explained, "The provisions in relation to health warning labels have been effective since July 16, 1999. However, one-year grace period has been granted to tobacco manufacturers to facilitate their compliance with the new health warning requirements."

Any person who fails to comply with the new legislation commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $25,000.

Details of the mentioned legislation (Cap 371) can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.justice.gov.hk.

End/Friday, July 14, 2000

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