Duty-paid labels mulled to stamp out illicit tobacco
Acting health minister Libby Lee said on Wednesday that officials are looking into the feasibility of putting designated labels on tobacco products, so they can be easily identified as duty-paid. At a Legislative Council meeting, lawmakers expressed concern over government efforts in combating illicit cigarettes, especially after a rise in tobacco tax for the second straight year announced in the budget last month. Lee said officials are looking into the feasibility of putting Customs Department labels on duty-paid products, and they'll report progress to lawmakers in a few months. Since 2021, 12 people have been prosecuted for promoting tobacco products, she said. Lawmakers Johnny Ng and Peter Shiu described the number as too low, saying it's common to see people give out flyers promoting illicit tobacco products at public housing estates. Lee cited difficulties in enforcement, saying officers cannot prosecute someone for just holding the flyers. She also said tobacco control officers remove around 50 websites a month selling illicit products, and they sometimes run into problems as well. "When it comes to overseas websites, we also have difficulty closing these websites or taking enforcement actions. However we'll step up enforcement efforts... and publicity," Lee told lawmakers.