A recent public opinion survey in Hong Kong reveals that a significant majority of residents support stepped-up smoking control measures as the city advances new public health legislation.

The study, which involved random telephone interviews with about 5,600 people conducted from December 2024 to May 2025, found that more than seven in ten respondents favour annual increases in tobacco tax, while roughly 78 per cent support plans to effectively ban tobacco use and sales for people born after a specified year as part of long-term policy goals.

Around 75 per cent also said they would back a complete prohibition on the sale and use of tobacco once prevalence falls to five per cent or below, indicating strong community backing for progressive steps toward reducing smoking and smoking-related harm.

The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, which commissioned the survey, highlighted widespread exposure to second-hand smoke, with nearly half of those questioned reporting exposure in the week before their interview, at locations including pavements, road crossings and outside bars.

These findings have fuelled calls for more comprehensive tobacco control measures within the framework of the 2025 Smoking (Amendment) Bill, which sets out a series of controls aimed at lowering smoking rates and protecting public health.

Support for enhanced smoking restrictions comes as Hong Kong’s overall smoking rate stands at around nine per cent of the adult population, a historic low but one that health officials say still contributes to substantial medical and economic costs.

Proposals gaining traction include higher tobacco taxes, restrictions on flavoured tobacco products, expanded no-smoking zones and future generational bans on tobacco sales to those born after a certain year.

The breadth of public support reflected in the survey is expected to strengthen policymakers’ resolve in advancing legislation and related health initiatives.