07th May, 2010 - Duty-free cigarettes policy

Legislators yesterday warned that reducing the number of duty-free cigarettes travellers can bring from three packets to 19 cigarettes could be inconvenient to traveller and seemed to be ridiculous. Under the new curb, traveller could only bring a opened packet of cigarettes with no more than 19 cigarettes. Lawmakers said the government in one hand allowed duty-free shops in cross-border piers to sell unopened packets of cigarettes, and prohibited traveller to bring a intact pack of cigarettes in the other. It seemed the government was encouraging people to break the law. If travellers bring more than 19 cigarettes, they have to pay tax for the extra cigarettes or scrap them. Lawmakers said smoking is not allowed in cross-border piers, if some travellers brought one unopened packet, he needed to pay duty for that extra cigarette or open the packet to scrap that, it seemed to be preposterous and would harm the image of Hong Kong. Duty-free shop tenders worried that their business would be hit as duty-free cigarettes accounted for 60% of their revenue.
The government said they will consider whether to have a outright ban over cigarette in long term, in order to create a smoke-free Hong Kong.