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Police confiscated illicit electronic cigarettesIf you live in Hong Kong and you are fed up with all the recent smoking bans, you would probably want to try those heavily advertised so-called e-cigs. However, you should not try them because Hong Kong Department of Health has banned the possession and distribution of electronic cigarettes. Under the recent regulation, anyone who would break the ban could get HK$100,000 fine and even a term in prison. Still not enough for you? Well, maybe you missed the news report saying that The Health Department agents together with police officers have confiscated several types of electronic cigarettes and arrested two people for distribution of these devices in a shop in one of the districts of Hong Kong. The electronic cigarettes were created in China in 2004; they look similar to regular cigarettes, have the same white body and even an amber glowing tip. They are called “electronic” because they have a battery inside, which heats by inhaling and delivers pure nicotine solution to the smoker as well as in case with conventional cigarettes. These devices can even provide a vapor, like common cigarettes. These devices have been massively advertised by their manufacturers and distributors who declared them as smoking cessation tools of a new generation. According to their marketers these devices can help all smokers who want to give up their habit. Electronic cigarettes’ cost varies from HK$380 to HK$599 per set. These devices have been very popular since Financial Secretary of the state declared his intention to increase the tax for tobacco products by 50 percent. However, due to the reason that electronic cigs contain nicotine solution and advertised as smoking cessation therapies, they should be put in the same row with other pharmaceutical products. According to the Department of Health laws all pharmaceutical products should be scientifically examined, approved for usage and duly registered prior to their distribution. Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance the distribution of any unregistered and thus illicit medical products in the territory of Hong Kong is subjected to imposition of heavy fines or imprisonment. Therefore, being not approved for further distribution, electronic cigarettes are legally banned in Hong Kong. Moreover, after having accomplished several tests on the samples of confiscated electronic cigarettes, the Department of Health spokesperson Elisa Lu declared that seized e-cigarettes contained about 25 milligrams of pure nicotine solution (in case you are not aware a whole pack of regular Cigarettes contains around 15 milligrams). She also stated that the content of other additives hazardous to the health is still unknown and subjected to scientific investigation. The Department of Health spokesperson mentioned that al people who want to give up smoking should visit the physician and receive consultations regarding approved smoking cessation therapies instead of using the devices that are not regulated. The Department of Health officials have ordered all Internet providers to ban the advertisements, indirect propaganda and other information regarding electronic cigarettes until all the circumstances are clarified. According to numerous declarations of e-cigs distributors, e-cigs are much healthier and safer than regular cigarettes. Yet, Prof. Lin Tai Wei from University of Hong Kong’ department of medicinal biology said that it is better for smokers if the electronic cigarettes are banned, since it could cause harmful health complications. He explained that e-cigs have nothing in common with other nicotine replacement therapies since they deliver high amount of nicotine. Another statement came from Na Li, the manager of Hong Kong Council on Health, who said that people who have been using electronic cigarette would not overcome nicotine addiction. The World Health Organization declared that there have been no scientific evidence in relation to safety and efficacy of electronic cigarettes. |
