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| - False: Orange rubbish bins in Hong Kong do not indicate ‘the only smoking areas’
Many Chinese social media posts that give travel tips to Hong Kong claim public smoking is only allowed near the orange rubbish bins on the streets. They say smokers who do not follow this rule can be fined up to HK$5,000 (about US$640).
Similar claims about smoking in the city can be found on popular platforms in mainland China such as Douyin (here and here), Xiaohongshu (here and here), and Baidu Zhidao. Some posts date back to at least 2017, and many of them are widely shared (for example, this video has over 114,000 likes and 103,000 shares).
However, the claim does not accurately describe the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) in Hong Kong, which does not mention anything related to the orange litter containers placed by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.
While the ordinance prohibits smoking or carrying a lighted cigarette, cigar, or pipe, in statutory no-smoking areas, it does not say the areas permitted for smoking must have orange bins.
According to the law, those caught smoking in the no-smoking areas will be fined HK$1,500 (about US$192), not $5,000.
The statutory no-smoking areas include indoor areas of restaurants, shops, shopping malls, bars, and nightclubs. Certain facilities with outdoor areas, such as hospitals, schools and parks, as well as public transport facilities, are also covered.
The regulation also applies to smoking products like waterpipe tobacco, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, according to the Hong Kong Council on Smoking And Health.
Contrary to the claim, orange litter containers (without ashtrays on top) can be found in some no-smoking areas as well, such as public transport interchanges.
Annie Lab contacted the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office, and their spokesperson confirmed our findings.
Meanwhile, public smoking outside of no-smoking areas is permitted in Hong Kong. However, smokers are required to discard the cigarette butt properly. Throwing cigarette butts on the ground, for example, can be fined for HK$3,000 (about US$384).
Annie Lab found a 2009 news report by Xin Kuai Bao that might have been the source of the misunderstanding. The newspaper in Guangzhou erroneously claimed that Hong Kong would impose a complete ban on tobacco starting July 1, 2009, and smoking would not be allowed in all public areas.
The short article also quoted travel agencies reminding tourists that they had to be within three meters of a litter container with an ashtray on top while smoking, although no such regulation was discussed in Hong Kong at the time.
Some social media posts also claim that “smoking while walking” is restricted in Hong Kong, which is not true. A ban on “smoking while walking” was one of the possible measures considered in the government’s public consultation last year, but health officials said it would be difficult to enforce, according to a local newspaper, the Standard.
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