Health minister Lo Chung-mau on Wednesday stressed that officials have to introduce measures to clamp down on smoking in order to protect public health, as he introduced the anti-smoking bill at the Legislative Council for its first reading.

In the bill tabled to Legco, officials plan to ban the possession and use of alternative smoking products (ASPs), such as e-cigarettes, in public.

There would also be tougher penalties for bringing in illicit cigarettes, the expansion of some non-smoking areas, and the introduction of a fine for those who smoke while queuing for public transport and to enter certain premises.

Subject to Legco's passage of the bill, the measures will have different implementation dates.

The measure to double the fine to HK$3,000 for those who smoke in banned areas could come into effect as early as New Year's Day. Those who smoke while in a queue will be fined for the same amount.

The ban on e-cigarettes would take effect in about a year’s time, with offenders subject to a fine of HK$3,000, while the ban on the sale of flavoured tobacco products and a duty stamp system for cigarettes would come in the second quarter of 2027.

Lo pointed out there will not be an economic loss as a result of these tobacco control measures.

On ASPs, he told lawmakers he found it outrageous that even though their sale had been banned for three years, young people here still have access to these harmful devices.

"Unfortunately, despite the ban being implemented for three years, there are still young people who are exposed to these products or e-cigarettes," he said while introducing the bill.

"They sometimes use these products to take space oil drug. Who offers these products to our younger generation?"

Noting that the healthcare system already faces many challenges with an ageing population and higher medical costs, Lo pointed out that health problems related to smoking would only add burden to the system.

After the bill's first reading, it was passed on to the House Committee, which will decide whether or not to set up a bills committee for it.