Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Health Bureau today rejected claims that, under proposed new regulations, verification of whether conventional smoking products are “duty-paid” will depend solely on packaging.
The Government tentatively plans to implement both uniform packaging design for conventional smoking products and a duty stamp system simultaneously in the second quarter of next year.
In response to media enquiries today, the bureau emphasised that the uniform packaging plan aims to reduce the attractiveness of tobacco products, while the duty stamp requirement will strengthen efforts to combat “cheap-whites”, which are tobacco products imported without duties having been paid.
Following the measures’ implementation, all tobacco legally sold in Hong Kong will be required to have duty stamps affixed.
The bureau emphasised that uniform packaging is not itself intended to distinguish duty-paid cigarettes from “cheap-whites” and expressed regret at the dissemination of inaccurate information.
It said the duty stamps will adopt both physical and digital anti-counterfeiting technologies. The former will be similar to those commonly used in banknotes. Readily discernible to the naked eye, they allow swift and convenient verification.
The bureau added that physical anti-counterfeiting technologies are sufficiently mature to effectively prevent forgery of duty stamps.
Digital anti-counterfeiting features are intended to assist frontline Customs officers in law enforcement. Members of the public who are uncertain about the authenticity of duty stamps on tobacco products will be advised to report their concerns to Customs.