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11NEWS CORNER%u201cSubmissions of articles to News Corner with up to 500 words are always welcome. Options of College Souvenirs or Gift vouchers will be given as a token of appreciation for good works if the articles are selected for publication. Email: FPLinks@hkcfp.org.hk%u201dCompiled by Dr. Christina CHEUKsmoking rates exceeded 23%; by the early 2000s the figure dipped below 15%, and by the 2020s stabilized around 10%. Several factors contributed to this decline:%u2022Aggressive taxation on tobacco products.%u2022Pioneering adoption of pictorial health warnings (first implemented in 2007).%u2022Comprehensive smoke-free legislation enacted in 2007%u20132009 banning smoking in restaurants, workplaces, and many public areas.%u2022Continuous media campaigns highlighting tobacco harms and promoting cessation services.%u2022Community-based outreach programmes targeting vulnerable groups such as ethnic minorities, lowincome workers, and youth.Despite this progress, several challenges persist. Social acceptability of smoking among certain age groups, the growth of vaping and heated tobacco products, and the persistence of an illicit cigarette market hinder policy impact. Furthermore, mental health comorbidities and addiction-related relapse contribute to the difficulty of sustained cessation.Comparing with Other Asian RegionsA regional comparison highlights both Hong Kong%u2019s strengths and areas where other jurisdictions have experimented with different approaches.The Road to a Smoke-Free Hong KongThe passage of the 2025 anti-smoking amendment signals a renewed political will to move toward a tobacco endgame. Still, realising a %u22645% smoking prevalence by early 2030s will demand:%u2022Timely implementation of second-phase measures, including the menthol ban.%u2022Strengthened border enforcement against illicit tobacco trade.%u2022Expansion of cessation services, especially leveraging digital health tools.%u2022Sustained public education campaigns that highlight not just harm, but the benefits of quitting.%u2022Regular policy review to adapt to emerging products and marketing tactics..Endgame-style tobacco control is not a static project but an evolving strategy %u2014 requiring vigilance, consensusbuilding, and the political courage to prioritize health over commercial interests.Reference:1.https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202504/25/P2025042500383.htm 2.https://www.smokefree.hk 3.https://hk.news.yahoo.com/%u63a7%u7159%u5341%u62db%u61f6%u4eba%u5305-2025%u653f%u5e9c%u63a7%u70df%u6cd5%u4f8b%u8349%u6848%u8cc7%u8a0a%u6458%u8981%u6587%u7747%u6652-062053765.html 4.https://www.taco.gov.hk/t/english/infostation/infostation_sta_01.html 5.https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/saptowards2025_fullreport_target5_en.pdf 6.https://www.taco.gov.hk/t/english/legislation/legislation_asp.html7.https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr2025/english/ord/2025ord039-e.pdf 8.https://www.generationsanstabac.org/en/actualites/hong-kongrenforce-sa-loi-legislation-sur-le-tabac-et-les-produits-a-la-nicotine/9.https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/singapore/cigarette-contents10.https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr2025/chinese/bc/bc109/minutes/bc10920250708.pdf 11.https://news.now.com/home/local/player?newsId=618336 12.https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr2025/chinese/bc/bc109/papers/bc10920250513cb3-706-1-c.pdf 13.https://www.healthbureau.gov.hk/tobacco-free/assets/pdf/consultation_document_en.pdf14.https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202509/30/P2025093000332.htm15.https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/wbr.html?ecode=B11302012024XX0116.https://www.tkww.hk/a/202508/23/AP68a94a7ae4b0f2e743947166.htmlRegionDaily Smoking PrevalenceKey MeasuresHong Kong~9% (2023)High tobacco tax, wide smokefree zones, ban on flavoured cigarettes, e-cigarette restrictionsSingapore~11% (2022)Progressive age-based ban - to raise purchase age 21, plain packaging, high taxesSouth Korea~18%u201320%Large graphic warnings, high taxes, smoke-free zones; weaker restrictions on flavoured cigarettesMacau~9%u201310%Comprehensive indoor ban, taxation, restrictions on alternative productsJapan~16%Partial smoke-free laws (varies locally), pictorial warnings not fully mandatoryChina~26%N a t i o n a l s m o k e - f r e e campaigns in major cities; public health messaging