Asia Tech Wire (June 6) -- Hong Kong may ban e-cigarettes completely in the future.

The Hong Kong government held a press conference on Thursday to announce the results of the public consultation on tobacco control strategies conducted earlier and to introduce Hong Kong's next tobacco control measures.

The Secretary for Health, Chung-mau Lo, said that from the results of the consultation, more than 90% of the people surveyed expressed support for the government to implement tobacco control measures extensively.

Lo introduced that Hong Kong's next tobacco control measures will consist of short-, medium- and long-term considerations, of which 10 short-term measures include the introduction of a labeling system for duty-paid cigarettes, an increase in the penalties related to smuggling of duty-not-paid cigarettes, and a total ban on alternative smoking products, among others.

Under Hong Kong law, alternative smoking products refer to electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes.

The Deputy Secretary for Health, Eddie Lee, said at the press conference that under the total ban on alternative smoking products, Hong Kong will further prohibit the public from possessing alternative smoking products in any way.